Rangers vs Motherwell ref watch: Three big calls that went against Rangers at Fir Park
Steven McLean found himself under the spotlight after Rangers’ frustrating 1–1 draw with Motherwell, a match packed with contentious decisions.
Rangers took an early lead through Nicolas Raskin, but despite Motherwell being reduced to 10 men after Lukas Fadinger’s red card — upgraded following a VAR review — the visitors couldn’t hold on, with Stephen Welsh striking late to earn the hosts a point.
While VAR corrected one major call, several other moments involving McLean left Rangers unhappy.
Chermiti penalty appeal dismissed
Just before half-time, Rangers felt they had a strong case for a penalty when Youssef Chermiti went down in the box under pressure from Paul McGinn and Elliott Watt. The forward appeared to be caught and bundled over, with claims of contact on his ankle.
McLean immediately waved play on and showed no interest in revisiting the incident, before awarding Motherwell a free kick shortly afterwards at the other end — adding to Rangers’ frustration.
Slattery fouls spark debate
Callum Slattery won a string of first-half free kicks as Motherwell looked to build pressure. However, Rangers players were clearly unconvinced, feeling the midfielder went down too easily on several occasions.
One flashpoint saw Mohamed Diomande booked for a challenge just outside the box, though replays suggested minimal contact. The perception among Rangers was that Slattery was successfully drawing fouls in dangerous areas.
Penalty shout at the other end ignored
In the second half, Motherwell had their own appeal when Slattery went down following a challenge from substitute Ryan Naderi. Despite protests, McLean again chose to wave play on.
Rangers may have been relieved on that occasion, but the decision added to the sense of inconsistency that surrounded the officiating performance overall.
Leave a Reply