As Rangers drop two points against Dundee United, the Ibrox side’s negligent finishing failed to overcome an abject and embarrassing refereeing performance.
Whilst cooing pundits may point to missed opportunities, the reality is that if the referees actually did their jobs correctly then the match may not have ended 1-1.
Not only were Rangers denied two stonewall penalties, Ross Graham seemingly given a bye on his 21st birthday, but with VAR the Arabs may well have been down to 9 men.
Rangers should have had a penalty at 0-0 – the ball clearly striking Ross Graham’s hand and being ignored by Bobby Madden and his team – and the Dundee United defender also hauled back Fashion Sakala in the box whilst on a yellow card with the Gers trailing 1-0.
Again, for reasons unbeknownst to us, Madden didn’t call up. Missing it is one thing, ignoring it is another.
Charlie Mulgrew could’ve also seen red for a studs-up challenge on Scott Arfield in the first half of the game.
These are a series of match-defining decisions that have gone in Dundee United’s favour and could have wide-ranging implications on the title race.
Scottish football – not just Rangers – being let down by woeful refereeing
Scottish football is an industry that props up thousands of jobs, that has millions on the line, especially this season with the £30m Champions League loot, and quite simply, deserves better.
Caught somewhere between the pressure applied due to masonic refereeing conspiracy nonsense and genuine incompetence, the standard of officiating is as low as it has ever been across the board.
That the Sky Sports panel would genuinely try to talk down both of these incidents just adds to the brass neck of the entire thing.
But whilst we deserve a better understanding of the basic rules of football from our pundits – McInnes’ claims that he didn’t know the rules an indictment of his own negligence – it’s more important we get it from our referees.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst was defiant at full-time [Sky Sports]. The fact there is no VAR means that apparently there is no conversation to have.
But the fact there is no technology – and instead opposition to implementing it ASAP – is also a sad indictment of the tinpot state of play in Scotland.
Apply the rules correctly, play the game fairly, and ensure that even if the team that’s on top don’t convert their chances, the referees are prepared to properly uphold the basic tenets of the game.
Because if we’re not playing by the rules, then what exactly is the point?
Meanwhile, Rangers’ Europa League rivals Borussia Dortmund have also suffered a major injury blow heading into the return leg at Ibrox next week.
