Barry Ferguson admits he is stunned that Rangers were not awarded a foul in the closing moments of their 2-2 draw with Livingston on Sunday.
Rangers fought back from two goals down at Almondvale Stadium on 22 February to rescue a point, but controversy erupted deep into stoppage time.
With the score level in the 94th minute, Mikey Moore burst in behind the defence before being brought down by Cammy Kerr. Replays suggested there was clear contact, potentially just outside the penalty area.
While debate remains over whether it should have resulted in a penalty, Ferguson’s frustration centres on what he views as an obvious foul being missed altogether by referee Ryan Lee.
VAR official David Dickinson reviewed the incident and determined the contact occurred outside the box and did not deny a clear goalscoring opportunity, meaning the on-field decision stood. However, many Rangers supporters felt the situation warranted at least a free-kick, especially given the significance of the moment in the title race.
Speaking on Go Radio, Ferguson did not hold back.
“What blows my mind is that the referee doesn’t give a foul. I honestly don’t get it. It absolutely baffles me. It’s a clear foul. Whether it’s outside or inside the box is debatable, but for me, I just don’t understand why the referee hasn’t given a foul.
“For me, I think it’s just on the line. The worrying thing for me is that the referee doesn’t think it’s a foul. The referee is in a good position, in my mind. How he doesn’t think it’s a foul on Moore, I just don’t get it if I’m being brutally honest.”
The controversy has also sparked wider questions about officiating standards in the Scottish Premiership, with supporters calling for clarity from refereeing chief Willie Collum.
Beyond the flashpoint, there were footballing issues to address. Rangers struggled badly in the first half before showing greater urgency after the break. Ferguson believes manager Danny Rohl must also shoulder some responsibility for the sluggish start, particularly with team selection and attacking balance.
There is still plenty of football left to play this season, but if Rangers are to mount a serious challenge and finish strongly at Ibrox, consistency — and perhaps fewer contentious refereeing calls — will be crucial.
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