Rangers: Chris Sutton fumes at SPFL ‘nonsense’ after ‘humiliating’ Ibrox development
Chris Sutton has fumed at referee Don Robertson after Rangers’ SPFL clash against Dundee was cancelled with less than two hours notice on 17 March.
The former Celtic man insisted that the decision had to be made earlier, questioning the timing of the referee’s arrival and insisting he should have to be at the game at least three hours before kick-off.
He went on to suggest it may not be the fault of Robertson but more the SPFL, although he insisted it is an embarrassment for Scottish football as it wouldn’t happen in any other top division.
Speaking to the Daily Record [17 March], Sutton ranted: “It’s a complete embarrassment. Don says it was an easy decision. So why on earth could it not have been made earlier?
“The amateur referee at 9:15am had a look and had concerns. Then they had to wait for Don and he rocks up about an hour later. Don, or any match referee, should be at a stadium at least three hours before kick-off.
“Why is he even thinking about rocking up to the ground less than two hours before? I looked at my watch and it was 10:17am when he wandered out onto the pitch. He’s like a celebrity. What a load of nonsense.
“Listen, it might not just be down to Don. It might be the SPFL procedure that it’s okay to turn up at that time. Good lord, he’s the match referee. Can you imagine a game in the English Premier League being called off just over an hour-and-a-half before kick-off? Or La Liga? It’s humiliating.”
Chris Sutton fumes at latest ‘humiliating’ Rangers development
Sutton’s anger at the late cancellation is perfectly fair. Fans attending the game will likely already have made the journey, be it from Glasgow, elsewhere in Scotland, or even south of the border, while a decision could have been made much earlier.
That call would have saved many fans the cost of the journey, but instead, the delay in making a decision given the long wait for Robertson to show up means many will be left having travelled for no reason and heading straight home.
Philippe Clement was also left angered by the decision, with he and his Rangers squad seemingly having arrived before even the official and made to wait before the decision was made hours before kickoff.
Chris Jack reported that the game could now be rescheduled into a midweek slot either before the Old Firm clash with Celtic or the away trip to Ross County, adding further congestion to a difficult fixture list at Ibrox.
Something has to change for Scottish football to move forward.
In other Rangers news, another injury blow has emerged at Ibrox.
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