Neil McCann told he’s simply wrong after Rangers complaint
Rangers were comprehensive 5-1 winners over Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening, but the game was not without its controversy.
The Gers were well on their way to a comfortable three points inside five minutes at Ibrox, which ramps up the pressure on Hearts at the summit.
Dom Thompson was sent off for a challenge on Djeidi Gassama that resulted in a penalty, which skipper James Tavernier converted.
Rangers did not initially build on that one-man and one-goal advantage, but Bojan Miovski, Andreas Skov Olsen, Oliver Antman and Mikey Moore all found the net in the second half.
Beyond the early penalty, there was also a contentious moment when Tavernier pulled back on Ty John-Jules as the Kilmarnock forward tried to race through on goal.
That came moments after Miovski gave Rangers some breathing space and left Killie boss McCann furious at full-time.
What did Neil McCann say about James Tavernier incident?
McCann has strong ties to Rangers, of course, having recently been in the Ibrox dugout for a period alongside Barry Ferguson last season.
But it is fair to say any respect for Rangers was put to one side after a decision he felt referee David Dickinson got completely wrong.
“What I’m really angry about is that I think Tavernier should be sent off,” McCann told reporters.
“There is no reason for Ty to go down. It’s a clear push from behind and Ty was in with the ball over the top.
“I’m hearing there’s not much contact. It’s virtually identical contact to what Dom was penalised for. I can’t, for the life of me, understand why it’s not a red card.”
However, as annoyed as McCann was at the decision, he has now been told by a former FIFA official that he is unfortunately wrong.
Keith Hackett explains why James Tavernier wasn’t sent off vs Kilmarnock
What saved Tavernier, in the view of Keith Hackett, is that John-Jules was unlikely to get any control of the ball.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Hackett said: “The referee in issuing a yellow card is correct.
“There is sufficient evidence that the forward’s probability of controlling the ball was very much in doubt.
“The ball was heading at speed towards the goalkeeper and his possession.“
Had Tavernier been sent off at that point, it is fair to say it would have been very much game on at Ibrox.
But Dickinson got the call correct and it was a stress-free night for Danny Rohl’s men, who now have momentum back on their side after the weekend stalemate at Hibernian.