Ex-Premier League referee, Dermot Gallagher, has surely put an end to Saturday’s controversy, after his comments on Sky Sport News.
Gallagher was a Premier League referee for 15 years, between 1992 and 2007.
Gallagher reprimands Alan Shearer back in 2000 (Photo by Stu Forster/ALLSPORT)
On their Monday morning ‘Ref Watch’ segment, he reviews the most controversial decisions from the weekend’s action.
Of course, this week, Rangers got a mention.
Undoubtedly, it’s unusual to be awarded four penalties in one fixture.
As was inevitable, there has been uproar on social media from rival fans. While opposition manager, Oran Kearney, claimed three of the calls were incorrect.
The Northern Irishman disagreed with the decision. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The 61-year-old only disagreed with the awarding of the second spot kick.
“I wasn’t sure he caught him”, the 61-year-old said on Sky Sports News, of the challenge on Jermain Defoe.
It’s fair to say the Gers were fortunate on that one. Any contact on Defoe was very minimal and the striker sprung back up, rather than claiming a foul.
Importantly though, there was no doubt about the rest.
“Of the four penalties, this is the only one I wasn’t sure about.”
“I think he’s got the other three right.”
👀 REF WATCH 👀
Dermot Gallagher believes Andrew Dallas got three out of four decisions correct in awarding @RangersFC penalties against @saintmirrenfc.
He also looks at @CelticFC defender Kristoffer Ajer red card late on against @StJohnstone https://t.co/3kqhhvm9zu
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 4, 2019
There we have it.
After the benefit of hindsight, a vastly experienced former FIFA referee has vindicated the majority of Dallas’ decisions.
The one he got wrong – James Tavernier missed. Even if some Bears couldn’t quite believe it.