Noel Egan claims the Scottish FA should be “ashamed” of their reaction to Cyriel Dessers’ goal for Rangers against St Johnstone.
The ex-FIFA official claims the decision to award the goal is one of the most “bizarre” decisions he has seen for quite some time.
Matthew MacDermid appeared to signal for a foul by Dessers before the Nigerian put the ball in the back of the net during Rangers’ 2-0 victory over St Johnstone (17 August).
However, the goal was eventually awarded after a VAR review, with the SFA insisting they were satisfied MacDermid had waited until the ball crossed the line before blowing for a free-kick (via BBC Sport, 19 August).
However, Egan – speaking exclusively to Ibrox News – does not agree with this response from the SFA.
“If the referee stops and motions to award a foul then all of the players are going to stop too,” Egan said.
“Therefore, to then turn around and award a goal, I have to say that is the most bizarre decision I have seen for a long while.
“The referee was at fault and I can’t understand why the Scottish FA have come out and supported him.
“It’s truly incredible. If that was Man City against Fulham, for example, I don’t think in those circumstances the English press would have let the PGMOL get away with backing up the decision.
“The referee would have been vilified. MacDermid was completely out of order and the SFA should be ashamed of themselves for backing up that decision.”
Rangers and Philippe Clement get away with one against St Johnstone?
It is easy to see why St Johnstone feel aggrieved. Whether or not the referee did blow his whistle before the ball crossed the line, his body language still indicated that he had awarded a foul.
This might have led to some of the players becoming confused in what was quite an unusual situation.
However, there is not much that can be done now, and it appears as though the SFA has favoured Rangers in this instance. Whether or not that is the right call remains up for debate.
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