No one wants a pile on to further burder referees in Scotland but they have to help themselves. Yesterday in Dundee, Steven McLean further evidenced that help is clearly required.
The Scottish Cup quarter final was only a few minutes old when a baffling call was made in Rangers favour, with the home side’s defender somehow penalised for what was clearly a slice of the ball. Instead of making contact with his left foot, it was an awkward lash of the right which sent the ball backward toward the keeper. It was so blatantly not a pass-back but when the goalie lifted the ball, the whistle sounded.
What? How? Rangers were awarded an indirect free kick but to save McLean’s blushes, no goal came from it.
Into the second half and Calvin Bassey was yellow carded for very little. In his usual combative style, he had a busy game and many tussles on the left flank but there was no repitive fouls or malice at all, yet a card was produced to the bemusement of the former Leicester man.
Then right in front of the referee on 85 minutes, an obvious kick was aimed at Ryan Jack but no action taken. This was clearly noticed by the Rangers midfielder who wasn’t shy in letting McLean what he thought about it.
The sooner the officials can go full-time in Scotland, the better, as well as the introduction of VAR. Something has to give very soon as the current situation is untenable.