Hutton shocked by what Michael Stewart said about Rangers controversy
Alan Hutton was shocked after Michael Stewart played down the severity of Lennon Miller’s foul on Oscar Cortes in the 2-2 draw between Motherwell and Rangers on Sunday.
Assessing Kevin Clancy’s decision not to dish out a red card to Miller for a challenge on Cortes at Fir Park on 29 December, Stewart said that it would be “harsh” to send him off.
He admitted that Miller did take the Light Blues player out, but added that the foul did not look like one that warranted even a yellow card in real time.
“I think it’d be harsh, to be perfectly honest”, Stewart said on Premier Sports’ The Scottish Football Social Club podcast on 30 December.
“Look, yes, I think he does catch him, I don’t think there is enough force in it and I think it gets to a stage where it feels a little bit like re-refereeing the game because I don’t think many people if any would have thought there was actually a booking in real time.”
The statement caught Hutton, who thought there was a case to be made about Miller being sent off, by surprise.
Stewart quickly went on the defence and said: “No, no Alan. I’m not disputing that when you watch the replay.”
Hutton, meanwhile, replied: “That’s what VAR is for, Michael.”
Stewart, though, felt that the incident did not warrant VAR intervention.
“VAR is not there to re-ref the game, though”, he said.
However, Hutton doubled down on his stance and said: “It’s there to make correct decisions where possible, isn’t it?”
His colleague summed up his thoughts by saying that a yellow card was more than enough for the challenge.
“My point is I think a yellow card sufficed because in real-time, I don’t think many people would have thought it was a dangerous, forceful tackle”, Stewart explained.
“When you see the replay, I agree that he does fall through, but I don’t think there’s enough force enough in to be a red card, personally.”
Alan Hutton and Michael Stewart in disagreement over Lennon Miller incident v Rangers
Much has been said about the refereeing in the 2-2 draw between Motherwell and Rangers at Fir Park on Sunday.
The Light Blues believe Apostolos Stamatelopoulos’ opener should have been disallowed for a handball in the leadup to the goal and Miller should have been sent off for the foul on Cortes.
Stuart Kettlewell’s side, meanwhile, had two goals ruled out in the second half, with Jack Butland deemed lucky by many to have had his own goal cancelled.
Nevertheless, Philippe Clement cannot have complaints about dropping three more points against Motherwell and falling 14 points behind Celtic in the title race.
Celtic can extend the lead to 17 points if they beat the Gers at Ibrox on Thursday, 2 January.
A loss or even a defeat against Brendan Rodgers’ side at home could be the final nail in the coffin for Clement, who is reportedly on the brink of being sacked at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, this Light Blues star is happy to leave in January after what the fans have done to him.
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