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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Blair Meikle

REVEALED: How referees created rod for own backs with two rangers decisions | Vintage Vibes

Vanja Dragojevic was penalised against Hibs (Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)

Michael Stewart says referees have created a rod for their own backs after giving penaties like the one Hibs got at Ibrox - and that Rangers should have had one against St Mirren.

During David Gray's side's win at Ibrox, they were helped on their way by a spot kick awarded after Vanja Dragojevic and Jason Kerr tussled in the box.

Stewart said at the time that should not have been a penalty, with both players giving as good as they got.

Then at the weekend, Rangers failed to be awarded a spot kick during the thrashing of the Buddies, after a two-handed shove on Nicolas Raskin in the box.


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Stewart insists the "pictures speak for themselves on that one". And, with supporters continually highlighting these incidents, it is a situation created by giving decisions where the benchmark for a foul seemed to have been lower.

Speaking on Premier Sports' weekly Scottish football show, he said: "What are we now? The first month? I am tired of it already. I am trying to tread a tightrope here in regards to trying to resolve a situation I have with the SFA, but equally, I'm not going to ignore situations.

"I don't want to go overboard, but that is why I'm so frustrated with some of these decisions early this season because it's lowering the bar. Looking at that incident regardless, you do wonder how it wasn't picked up because it does look like a penalty kick.

"But this is the bigger point: when you make what I would regard as being poor decisions and then double down on it and pass guidance to the rest - which I've seen being said that 'well done, decisions are right' - then you're leaving yourself open for a continuation of poor decision after poor decision. Fans get frustrated and they will go look at it.

"We said it last week: never a penalty. If you're giving that, you're opening yourself up for all sorts of problems. Almost every single corner kick, if you're using that as your bar and your metric, you could justify giving a penalty. You clearly don't want that in the game. So that Raskin one specifically, I think the picture speaks for itself."

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