Motherwell v Rangers controversy: Ex-FIFA ref explains VAR ‘Dilemma’
Lennon Miller was perhaps lucky to avoid being sent off in the 2-2 draw between Motherwell and Rangers, according to Dermot Gallagher.
Discussing some of the refereeing decisions in the game at Fir Park on 29 December, the former FIFA official admitted that the Steelmen star took out Oscar Cortes before getting the ball in what was “not a nice tackle”.
Gallagher believes the only thing that saved Miller from being shown the red card was referee Kevin Clancy, who had some big decisions to make, not getting a clear look at the incident as he was “too close”.
“He gets the ball after the man, doesn’t he?”, he said on Sky Sports Scotland (30 December).
“Gets the man first and it’s not a nice tackle.
“The only thing that saves him, for me, is that the referee is too close. I don’t think he sees it as clear as we do.”
When host Rob Wooton asked why VAR did not intervene, Gallagher mooted the need to protect the referee and only step in when there is a clear and obvious error.
He replied: “That’s all about the threshold then.
“This is the dilemma about VAR, isn’t it? Is it a clear and obvious error?
“They see the referee is there, gave a yellow card, and they stuck by it.”
Philippe Clement in trouble after Motherwell v Rangers controversy
There were a few controversial decisions in the 2-2 draw between Motherwell and Rangers, with the visitors also wanting Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’ opener to be ruled out for handball.
The hosts, meanwhile, had two goals disallowed in the second half. One for a foul on Jack Butland and the other for offside.
Philippe Clement, though, cannot have any complaints about failing to lead the side to a victory after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against St. Mirren on Boxing Day (Thursday, 26 December).
The Belgian tactician is, therefore, under immense pressure at Ibrox after the Light Blues fell 14 points behind Celtic in the title race.
Brendan Rodgers’ side could extend the lead to 17 points when they visit Ibrox in the Premiership on Thursday (2 January), meaning Clement is running out of time.
A loss or even a draw in that game could prove to be the final nail in the coffin for the former Monaco boss in Govan.
In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd was surprised by what he saw the Light Blues players do at full-time against Motherwell.
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