Leon Balogun ‘lucky boy’ as BBC footage emerges of Rangers incident v Aberdeen
Neil McCann has dubbed Leon Balogun a “lucky boy” after BBC Sportscene highlighted a controversial incident in the Scottish Premiership clash between Rangers and Aberdeen.
The Gers succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to the Dons at Pittodrie on Wednesday (3O October) and the game was not short of talking points.
One of them came in the 26th minute when Ester Sokler went through on goal and looked destined to score before a last-ditch tackle from Balogun denied him.
Balogun got both the ball and the man and while McCann agreed with the referee’s decision, he believes the decision could have also gone against the Nigerian.
Asked if the referee got the decision right, McCann said on BBC Scotland’s Sportscene: “Just about, but he’s a lucky boy.
“This is last ditch, this is everything in this challenge, he just gets the slightest touch on the ball. Sokler has gone through, he cleans him out.
“The problem, I think, we’ve got [is] we all want… I know Sokler gets a touch there, but watch the touch from Balogun as it moves on just there.
“He gets a touch on the ball, which diverts it, then cleans Sokler out.
“I think what we’re all looking for is there’s a real inconsistency at times, particularly last season we saw players going in, winning the ball but the follow-through then being deemed dangerous and getting red cards and bigger punishments.
“I don’t think it’s a clear and obvious error for VAR to step in, so we want guys making tackles like that and if they win the ball being given the right decision, which I think it is.
“But he’s a lucky boy because I’ve seen red cards being handed out to players.”
Neil McCann deems Leon Balogun lucky after Rangers incident v Aberdeen
While McCann may be right about other players being previously sent off for similar tackles, it would have been harsh to see Balogun being given the marching orders for his challenge on Sokler.
The veteran clearly got enough on the ball to avoid any punishment and it would not have been fair to do otherwise after what was a fair tackle.
Balogun, though, was lucky on another earlier incident when Sokler easily got the better of him and it almost led to a goal from Jamie McGrath in the 9th minute. A goal-saving block from James Tavernier bailed him out on that occasion.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen where Rangers go from here after dropping nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen in the title race.
Speaking after the game, Philippe Clement described the performance as one of the best from his team and that drew criticism from Chris Sutton and Kris Boyd.
In other Rangers news, a Clement sack bombshell dropped live on Sky Sports during the game against Aberdeen.
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