'Without doubt' - Rangers penalty appeal vs Livingston sparks pundit debate as second red card consensus reached
Rangers were convinced they should have been awarded a penalty in stoppage time against Livingston after Cammy Kerr fouled Mikey Moore
Rangers dropped two points in the Scottish Premiership title race on Sunday as they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with bottom club Livingston in West Lothian.
And there was one major flashpoint towards the end of the game that has led to plenty of debate on social media when Danny Rohl’s side had a penalty appeal turned down in stoppage time.
Livi defender Cammy Kerr brought down Mikey Moore just outside the box after the Tottenham loanee has been slipped through on goal, with the referee opting not to point to the spot - a decision backed up by VAR much to the Light Blues disbelief.
And former Rangers star Andy Halliday - who was on punditry duties on Sky Sports - offered his verdict on the incident by suggesting that Kerr should have been sent off for his late challenge. However, he felt his old club should NOT have been awarded a penalty for the foul.
TV replays showed the point of contact wasn’t inside the box and therefore officials at the VAR control were correct not to get involved. And it seems the general consensus among Halliday, James McFadden and Kris Boyd was aligned with the call.
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However, Halliday maintained that Kerr should have been shown a red card and followed Cristian Montano up the tunnel for an early bath.
Andy Halliday adamant Livingston should have ended game with nine men
“Well, it's without doubt a foul,” he stated. “We sometimes criticise VAR, but the criticism in this occasion has to come to the referee Ryan Lee for the fact he has not given a foul in the first place.
“VAR had a look and you can see the initial point of contact looks as if it is just outside the box. While there is a continuation into the box, Mikey Moore's left leg is just outside.”
Presenter Eilidh Barbour asked if Kerr had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity to which Boyd countered: “It is difficult to say as I think you see somebody in cover there. Because it is so close, there will be Rangers fans who are disappointed, but the reality is it is not a penalty kick. The point of contact is clearly outside the box.”
Boyd then claimed the laws of the game had been correctly applied when determining the point of contact, adding: “A lot of Rangers fans are unhappy with the decision, but it is the correct one in the laws of the game.”
Questioned on whether it was indeed a sending off offence, Halliday said: “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 take a strike. For me, that is a red card and a foul.”
Kris Boyd raises concerns over referee’s over-reliance on VAR to make decisions
McFadden offered his take, expressing his surprise at the match being restarted with Livingston in possession of the ball. He commented: “I think that is an easier decision for the referee to give a foul initially because Cammy Kerr is coming from the wrong side with the wrong foot. I thought it was a foul.”
That led Halliday to cite several red-card incidents witnessed over the seven days, saying: “You cannot tell conclusively they are getting a shot when brought down at the halfway line. In this instance, there is much more of a chance of Mikey Moore getting a shot away.”
Boyd then raised his concern about officials relying too much on VAR to make key decisions, commenting: “They are relying on VAR to bail them out a lot of the time. On the pitch, it should have been clear as day that it was a foul.
“The big frustration for Rangers fans and Danny Rohl is that the referee did not make the decision. So, they did not get an opportunity to take the free-kick because VAR cannot award that.”