Mikey Moore situation ‘unfathomable’ after Rangers controversy vs Livingston
Rangers have every right to be fuming after Mikey Moore was fouled late on against Livingston on Sunday.
The Gers travelled to the Home of the Set Fare Arena in the Scottish Premiership and found themselves 2-0 down until the 81st minute.
Goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and the Tottenham loanee brought Danny Rohl’s side level before the latter had the chance to net the winner.
The 18-year-old was brought down on the edge of the box while going through on goal, but much to the bafflement of Des Roache, a red card wasn’t awarded.
Frustration was clear to see in three of the four stands at Livi after Moore was taken down, and that has since been echoed by the former referee.
Des Roache fumes at Mikey Moore conrtoversy vs Livingston
Rohl couldn’t quite believe that a foul wasn’t given by the on-field referee as Ryan Lee demanded that play continue.
That feeling was only made worse when VAR decided not to return to the scene of the crime and show Cammy Kerr a red card.
The 30-year-old wasn’t the last man, but didn’t get a touch on the ball and denied a goal-scoring opportunity, but somehow managed to avoid joining Cristian Montano back in the dressing room.
Ex-referee Roache believes a red card should have been awarded, although a free-kick should have been awarded rather than a penalty.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “They’ve got to give the free-kick because the initial contact occurs outside the box. There is a case for the right leg coming round, but for me, the absolute minimum is a red card and a free-kick.
“Mikey Moore is pulling the trigger. It doesn’t matter if defenders are going to be covering him. The next action within the next second is Mikey Moore shooting at the goal, and he’s been cynically brought down by Cammy Kerr.
“There’s no contact on the ball, it’s full contact on the player, and how they can start the game with nothing is unfathomable.“
Dermot Gallagher disagrees with Roache’s Rangers verdict
The decision has raised plenty of questions throughout the footballing world, with the vast majority calling for a red card.
Moore is undoubtedly going through on goal, but even with that being the case, Sky Sports’ resident referee Dermot Gallagher doesn’t agree.
The former Premier League official has suggested that a free-kick and a yellow card would have been punishment enough for Kerr.
Speaking on Ref Watch, he said: “I think it’s a foul and a yellow card. It’s not in the penalty area, to start with, and there are so many covering players, so it’s not an obvious goalscoring opportunity. It’s certainly a foul.“
It is certainly controversial from Gallagher, and his opinion goes against that of Roache, who has no doubt about a red card being valid.
The travelling fans in Livingston wanted a red card, and I think it’s safe to say that the defender got away with one.
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