Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell was left fizzing after VAR decided to rule out what he felt was a perfectly good goal against Rangers.
The Fir Park side had two goals ruled out in the eventual 2-2 draw with Rangers in North Lanarkshire, both times with the scored poised at 2-1 to Motherwell.
Whilst replays showed one effort was correctly ruled out for offside, the decision to rule out Jack Butland’s own goal following a pull by Tony Watt left Kettlewell ‘flabbergasted’ come full-time.
But whilst the Motherwell manager bleats about the decision, Rangers have received some unlikely VAR support from ex-Celtic and Well striker Cillian Sheridan.
Stuart Kettlewell ‘baffled’ by Rangers VAR call
The incident involves Tony Watt pulling on Jack Butland’s shoulder as the two jostle for position during a Motherwell corner.
Whilst Butland – who put in a horror show at Fir Park – does make a meal of the situation, replays prove that Watt is pulling down on the goalkeeper’s shoulder before the ball crosses the line.
Despite this, Stuart Kettlewell was furious at full-time and suggested that it was the Rangers goalkeeper, and not the Motherwell striker, who had committed any foul.
”I’m literally flabbergasted that’s now blown for a foul,” Kettlewell told BBC Sport.
”For me it’s complete overprotection of the goalkeeper, I think he gets it all wrong.
”And the question I would ask is, if you actually look at the incident, Butland has a push out at Tony Watt to try and claim his space first.
”Tony then comes back leaning in towards the goalkeeper which you’re absolutely allowed to do, it’s a contact sport.
”So are we saying that the push from Butland starts to become a penalty. Is that a foul?
“If we’re deeming the bit that goes the other way, that’s where it starts to leave me really, really baffled with the whole thing.”
Ex-Celtic striker gives Jack Butland backing
Stuart Kettlewell was sent to the Motherwell stand such was his protestations over the decision and the situation has been poured over on Sportscene come full time.
Ex-Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan gave his two cents on the incident and claims that whilst Kettlewell can bleat, Tony Watt does have his arm on Jack Butland’s shoulder.
It’s really the only sensible outcome anyone with a pair of eyes can reach, so we’re glad someone has found the nerve to talk some sense here.
”I don’t think it’s worth him getting a red card for him saying that,” Sheridan told Sportscene.
“That’s what riled him up in getting sent off.
”Look I’ll be goalkeepers’ harshest critic, they get very well looked after, but I do think Tony Watt obstructs his shoulder kind of thing.
”Butland should do better still. Ultimately I think it’s a mistake but I do think it’s a foul.”
