Whistler Ryan Lee failed to award a foul on the pitch when Cammy Kerry scythed down Mikey Moore
Dermot Gallagher is adamant VAR got it spot on with their intervention in the last-gasp incident which left Rangers raging.
Whistler Ryan Lee failed to award a foul on the pitch when Cammy Kerry scythed down Mikey Moore on the edge of the box as he looked to grab an improbable winner after Danny Rohl’s side fell into a 2-0 hole.
But the video replay team told the referee – after an extensive check – that they believed it was a foul, able but didn’t feel it denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity (Dogso), and advised the game to proceed.
Rangers players and punters were left incensed, as were punters, who reckoned Moore had planted his foot in anticipation to strike but the former FIFA official was full of praise of VAR in the wake of the contentious 2-2 draw in West Lothian.
Speaking on Ref Watch, Gallagher said: “It’s a foul and a yellow card. He’s not in the penalty area when it starts. It’s not an obvious goalscoring opportunity but it’s certainly a foul.”
And Gallagher cast his eye over Celtic’s chastening 2-1 defeat to Hibs and reckons Auston Trusty had no for the defence after referee Matthew McDermid was summoned to the monitor after the defender had chopped Jamie McGrath’s arm.
Martin O’Neill claimed the whistler was set to let the pair off with a warning before video replay got involved, however, he believes the right decision was reached.
He added: “The problem here is that once the referee is alerted to it, the player grabs hold of Trusty’s arm and he bangs him off to get him away. When you see the VAR intervene, it looks as if he has done it with too much aggression. Once he’s sent to the VAR, you can’t unsee something.”
Gallagher also reckons Liam Scales’ penalty appeal was on the soft side. he said: “Not enough. He gets his shirt pulled because that’s what players do. But is there enough? I think not.”
And that was echoed by fellow expert Jay Bothroyd, who said: “People will sit at home and say, ‘What’s enough?’. To me, it looks like he’s looking for the penalty. As soon as he felt the contact, he fell to the floor.”
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