Former referee Dermot Gallagher has insisted that Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland did not deserve to be sent off for his challenge in the win over Kilmarnock, despite frustration from the home side.
Kevin Clancy chose not to punish the keeper for the incident involving Bruce Anderson, and Gallagher believes the officials got the call right—highlighting James Tavernier’s positioning as a decisive factor.
Kilmarnock were furious after their 3-0 loss at Rugby Park, feeling two major decisions went against them. Manager Stuart Kettlewell was dismissed for protesting on the touchline, while assistant Stevie Frail criticised the refusal to award a penalty when David Watson appeared to be held by Mohamed Diomande near the box, and the choice not to show Butland a red card.
VAR referee Gavin Duncan reviewed both incidents, but Clancy was not instructed to give a penalty or check the monitor.
Reviewing the Butland-Anderson moment on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher said: “I don’t think it’s a red card. If you look closely, Tavernier gets around the back.
The forward touches the ball, but Tavernier is covering and the ball is moving away to the left. For me, that’s not a red.”
Former striker Jay Bothroyd added that similar situations in the Premier League often lead to VAR siding with the goalkeeper:
“We’ve seen calls where the keeper gets the ball first and the follow-through isn’t judged a foul—like the Gyökeres or Saka incidents. It’s a different league and context, but the principle still applies.”
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