Ref watch: Rangers FC vs Aberdeen FC — three major calls Matthew MacDermid got wrong at Ibrox
Rangers may have cruised to a convincing 4-1 win over Aberdeen, but referee Matthew MacDermid still came under scrutiny for several questionable decisions during the match at Ibrox.
The visitors took an early lead through Tochi Chukwuani, but Rangers responded strongly, with goals from Mikey Moore, Nico Raskin, and James Tavernier securing the victory after Dennis Geiger had briefly reduced the deficit.
Despite the comfortable scoreline, MacDermid’s officiating left plenty to be desired.
Soft foul denies Rangers momentum
One of the more frustrating moments came just before half-time when Tuur Rommens attempted to win possession near Aberdeen’s box. Afeez Aremu went down under minimal pressure, and the referee awarded a free kick.
The decision appeared soft and halted what could have been a promising attacking opportunity. Rangers boss Danny Röhlwas visibly unhappy on the touchline, feeling his side had been denied a chance to capitalise before the break.
Questionable free kick given for minimal contact
Another controversial moment followed when Emmanuel Gyamfi went to ground after a challenge from Thelo Aasgaardon the edge of the box.
Replays suggested there was little to no contact, with the fall appearing delayed. However, MacDermid still awarded a free kick, much to the disbelief of players and supporters alike. The decision was widely viewed as overly generous and only added to frustrations inside Ibrox.
Counter-attack stopped too early
Perhaps the most contentious call came when Rangers were breaking forward on a dangerous counter-attack. MacDermid quickly blew his whistle to award a foul and issued a yellow card to an Aberdeen midfielder.
While the challenge itself may have warranted punishment, the early whistle prevented Rangers from playing the advantage and potentially creating another scoring opportunity. Fans reacted angrily, believing the referee acted too hastily.
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