‘Clean it up’ – Ex-FIFA ref delivers Livingston vs Rangers verdict on pivotal moment
Rangers won their first league match of the season away at Livingston, but there were several controversial moments.
Russell Martin secured his first Scottish Premiership victory as goals from James Tavernier and Max Aarons handed Rangers the three points.
Mohamad Sylla equalised for Livingston in the second half after poor defending from John Souttar, but Aarons struck in injury time to save Rangers’ blushes.
Bojan Miovski missed several chances to score to make the result more secure, and Rangers could have won more comfortably.
This article contains exclusive opinion from former FIFA referee Keith Hackett.
Rangers fairly awarded penalty in first half
Tavernier could have doubled the lead in the first half but he had a penalty saved, with a spot kick awarded after a foul on Nicolas Raskin.
Macaulay Tait fouled Raskin with a shirt pull, and after a VAR review, Rangers were awarded the penalty.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, former FIFA referee Keith Hackett praised the decision to penalise the shirt pull, and claimed that these fouls need to be eradicated.
- Rangers took the lead in the first half through a Tavernier volley.
- Mohamad Sylla equalised with a header.
- Aarons scored the winner after tapping in from a set-piece.
“The only way that the game is to clean up its act is as in this case start to penalise holding offences,” Hackett explained.
“There was a tug and players feeling contact as in this case will go to ground.
“Good to see VAR intervention and once at the monitor, referee John Beaton is going to point to the penalty mark.”
Rangers could have won more comfortably
It was still far from convincing from Rangers overall, and Martin was booed again by the travelling fans who want him sacked.
Had Tavernier scored the penalty, or Miovski netted his big chance in the first half, then Rangers could have won more convincingly, without needing an injury-time goal.
It was an improved performance, with Oliver Antman impressing on his return to the starting lineup, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, and Martin has not eased much of the pressure on him despite the result.
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