Rangers felt aggrieved after a late penalty appeal was turned down in stoppage time against Livingston F.C., as Cammy Kerr fouled Mikey Moore just outside the box. The Light Blues had fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the bottom club in West Lothian, but the incident sparked debate among pundits and fans alike.
The challenge came when Moore was slipped through on goal. Referee Ryan Lee decided not to award a penalty, a call upheld by VAR.
Former Rangers star Andy Halliday, working as a pundit on Sky Sports, argued that while Kerr should have been sent off for his late challenge, the foul did not warrant a penalty since the initial point of contact was just outside the box. TV replays supported this view, and fellow pundits James McFadden and Kris Boyd largely agreed.
Halliday was adamant that Kerr deserved a red card, saying: “If Mikey Moore is not fouled there, he is volleying the ball towards goal.
It is not as if he is trying to take a touch into the box; he is ready to strike. For me, that is a red card and a foul.” Boyd and McFadden, meanwhile, focused on the correct application of the laws regarding the penalty. Boyd noted:
“The point of contact is clearly outside the box. Many Rangers fans will be disappointed, but the referee and VAR applied the laws correctly.”
Concerns were also raised about officials’ reliance on VAR. Boyd added: “They are leaning on VAR to bail them out too often.
On the pitch, it should have been clear as day that it was a foul. The real frustration for Rangers and Danny Rohl is that the referee did not make the call, so the team didn’t even get a chance for the free-kick.”
Despite the debate, the consensus among the pundits was that while Kerr’s challenge merited a sending-off, Rangers were not entitled to a penalty.
The incident leaves lingering discussion over refereeing decisions and VAR’s role, especially in such tight Scottish Premiership encounters.
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