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.
Since his retirement, he has become a regular in Sky Sports’ studios.
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.
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Gallagher, though, didn’t see what all the fuss was about.
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.”
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.
