Mohamed Diomande’s red card in the closing stages of Rangers’ win over Dundee United was met with confusion.
Just what had the Gers midfielder actually been sent off for?
Diomande was targeted for fouls by the United players all afternoon and there was a flare-up between him and Kevin Holt deep into stoppage time, the home defender actually shoving the Gers man after the whistle had gone.
The Ivorian’s arms sort of flail as he his pushed and a camera angle from behind referee Nick Walsh shows his hand does move in the direction of Holt’s face, so he may think he has seen a slap.
But it seems to be an involuntary movement and there is no evidence he even touches him, deliberately or otherwise. Philippe Clement was certainly furious on the touchline.
Diomande was the pick of the bunch during an improved Rangers second half against United and had been the best player in a poor first.
He could now miss games for what was an innocuous moment.
There was bafflement on commentary and James McFadden admitted there wasn’t enough for a sending off.
Boyd on ’embarrassing’ Rangers red card
Kris Boyd went a lot further and branded it an “embarrassing” decision and insisted it will be overturned on appeal.
Walsh was called over to the monitor by VAR Don Robertson but stuck to his original decision.
Boyd branded the main official ‘stubborn’ and reluctant to admit he got it wrong first time round.
He told Sky Sports: “Embarrassing. I think sometimes when you go to the monitor you can be too stubborn, sometimes you’ve just got to admit you got it wrong. And Nick Walsh should’ve.
“There is no excessive force, there is no brutality and if I’m Rangers I would have my appeal in right now.
To shock no-one, Chris Sutton disagreed and it sparked an argument between the pair.
Sutton: “In Dundee and Glasgow would you say that’s violent conduct? I’m not so sure. But I would say is you can’t slap someone in the face.
“You just can’t do that. He does slap. I think he does catch him. Nick Walsh was right on the spot. While we can criticise Nick Walsh, I think the player has to show discipline and is now going to miss a couple of games.
“You can’t just go around slapping people.”
Boyd: “I think it’s a little bit inconclusive if he even slaps him. There’s no excessive force.”
Sutton: “If you don’t send him off for that you’re just saying it’s a free-for-all. All games would be a free-for-all.”
Boyd: “I cannot understand. Nick Walsh is right there and from his angle it might look as if he’s slapped him. But it’s inconclusive.”
Sutton: “You’re saying it’s inconclusive but Nick Walsh is right on the spot.”
Boyd: “Because I’m watching it about 40 times here and we’re still arguing about it which tells us that it’s not inconclusive.
“I think sometimes you can be quick to react, I think Nick Walsh has done that. He’s then had four or five, or maybe more times, to look at it. Sometimes you can be too stubborn.
“I think that one will be overturned. It should be appealed anyway.”
Diomande man-of-the-match for Rangers
It was a shame for Diomande because he had been a standout for Rangers, and Boyd was also impressed.
And he wasn’t taking the man-of-the-match award off him for the sending off.
He added: “No, I’m taking that off him because he shouldn’t have been red carded anyway.
“No doubt (Diomande will be missed) because of what he brings in the middle of the pitch. Diomande gives you something else.
“He was the only bright spot Rangers had in that first half, he got the goal. He broke the play up, was fouled a few times aswell and got up, never reacted.
“And then wrongfully red carded.”
