Dermot Gallagher agreed with fuming Rangers boss Philippe Clement as he admitted to being “surprised” by Mohamed Diomande’s red card on Sunday.
And Dundee United man Kevin Holt was told he was lucky not to be handed a second booking for his role on the flashpoint. The Light Blues victory over ended in controversy with Diomande being shown a straight red card by referee Nick Walsh after the Rangers midfielder was involved in a tangle with Kevin Holt. The United man – who was already on a yellow card – would shove the Ivorian before the Light Blues’ man raised his hands.
The man in the middle judged that the Diomande had attempted to raise an arm to the face of the Tannadice star – and dished out a sending off. Don Robertson in the VAR room sent whistler Walsh to the pitchside monitor to review the incident. The Belgian fumed at the incident after the full-time and insisted that Rangers will take the row to the SFA.
Speaking to Sky Sports Ref Watch, former Premier League referee Gallagher said: “I was A) Surprised the red card came out and B) Surprised that when Nick was sent to the screen he stuck with his original decision. It does prove that when you got the screen that all options are available.
“He gets a push, twice, he raises his arms – does he connect with his face? Does he mean to connect with his face? The other thing to remember is brutal or malicious but I don’t think it’s either.”
Sue Smith added: “It’s a real surprise. It’s never a red card in a million years. I’ve watched it from all different angles. I just can’t see how it’s a red card – he gets pushed, he is just moving away from him.
“He doesn’t connect with him at all and I thought when he goes over to the screen he was going to go ‘oh, I completely got that wrong – there is no connection’ and wipe the red card. That was a real shock decision.”
Stephen Warnock pointed the finger of blame at Holt. He laughed: “I am still trying to work out what is is. A bad decision.
“He is falling off balance and his arm comes out. If anything, it’s the player (Holt) who is on a yellow card that is using two hands that you would be thinking ‘be careful’.”