'It is simply cheating' - Rangers star criticised for Hearts dive but ex FIFA official leaps to player's defence
The Dane was shown a yellow card in the first half after he went down inside the box
Rangers winger Andreas Skov Olsen has been branded a cheat by two former Scottish Grade One officials after he was booked for diving in Sunday’s 4-2 Premiership win over table-topping Hearts at Ibrox.
The Danish international, who has yet to hit top gear since joining Danny Rohl’s side on an initial loan move from German Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg last month. He scored in the recent home win over Kilmarnock but supporters are still expecting to see more from the playmaker who comes with a lofty £10m price tag.
Skov Olsen found himself in hot water, though, against the Jambos when he was shown a yellow card by referee Don Robertson for simulation after going down under Islam Chesnekov’s challenge in the first-half in an attempt to win a penalty.
According to The Ref’s View podcast, which is run by former officials Des Roache and Steve Conroy, both men shared the same view as they offered their expert take on the incident
Taking to social media, they wrote: “Skov Olsen - dive - correctly cautioned. We need to rid the game of cheating. No matter which player or team. It is simply cheating fellow professionals. We won’t change our stance on this.”
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However, former FIFA official Keith Hackett disagreed with their stance. Speaking to Ibrox News, he commented: “This is not an act of simulation, and football is a contact sport.
“Not every contact is a foul or an act of simulation. Frankly, give nothing; it’s football, and these incidents of accidental contact take place. No foul, no yellow card.”
Hearts fans will feel Skov Olsen was fortunate to stay on the pitch. With the score line locked a 2-2, the Dane escaped another booking for throwing himself to the deck under a soft challenge from Alexandros Kyziridis.
In a heated encounter, new Light Blues signing Tuur Rommens was also involved in an altercation with Jordi Altena off the ball. The Belgian defender felt he had been fouled prior to Rangers’ third goal and he let his opponent hear all about it.
Rommens can be seen making a run to the back post as hat-trick hero Youssef Chermiti went up to meet Skov Olsen’s cross, but just as the £8m striker headed home to fire the Gers in front for the first time, Rommens was brought down by the Hearts full-back in the box.
While his team-mates headed off to celebrate, Rommens decided to head in the other direction and to gloat right in Altena’s face in a brief exchange between the pair.