FIFA want to crack down as John Lundstram verdict emerges after Rangers incident
Alan Stubbs has claimed that the tackle that led to John Lundstram being sent off for Rangers in the Old Firm derby on 11 May would have been considered “really good” when he was a player.
Shortly before half-time, Lundstram lunged in on Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston, initially receiving a yellow card which was then upgraded to red following a VAR review.
However, Stubbs feels modern laws and the addition of video reviews have altered the definition of what is worthy of a sending-off after the 2-1 loss at Parkhead.
Speaking to the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast (12 May), he said: “I think in today’s game it’s a red card, because of the way the rules have changed.
“I think when I played, we would’ve said that was a really good tackle but now, with VAR being involved in the game – when you actually slow it down and you see where [Lundstram has] caught [Johnston], that then comes under the argument, ‘is [Lundstram] in control of his body?’
“He’s got his studs showing and this is what FIFA and IFAB have wanted to crack down on, so from that point of view I would say it is a red card.”
Should John Lundstram have been sent off for Rangers?
As different as the defensive side of the game may have been during Stubbs’ career, it is difficult to come to any conclusion other than that Lundstram’s tackle was deserving of a red card.
The midfielder charged in recklessly and caught Johnston above the ankle with his studs showing – a sending-off was inevitable.
It was a moment of madness from Lundstram who, at the age of 30, should have been one of the calmer heads on the pitch in a must-win game for Rangers.
Philippe Clement’s side had just halved the deficit through Cyriel Dessers’ header after going 2-0 down, but the Englishman’s red card killed the Gers’ momentum ahead of the second period.
The 2-1 defeat at Parkhead leaves Celtic six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table and in need of just one more point from their final two matches to ensure they clinch another league crown.
In other Rangers news, a star player may now never be seen at Ibrox after a ground-breaking update has emerged about him recently.
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