Michael Stewart reckons Ross McCausland dived for Rangers penalty and ‘can’t believe’ VAR didn’t overturn it
MICHAEL STEWART reckons Ross McCausland dived for Rangers’ first penalty versus Livingston – and can’t believe VAR didn’t overturn it.
The youngster tumbled in the box as he approached ‘keeper Shamal George and ref Steven McLean pointed to the spot.
James Tavernier MISSED from 12 yards – but made up later by slotting home a second penalty after a handball as Gers won 2-0.
Stewart was in no doubt that McCausland had dived without contact from George.
And the former Hearts and Hibs midfielder was STUNNED that the VAR officials didn’t ask McLean to have a second look.
He told Sportscene: “It’s not a penalty, there’s no doubt about that.
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“I’m surprised when VAR’s looked at it they’ve decided to stick with Steven McLean’s decision.
“Sometimes when you’re running at pace and stretching you can understand players going down.
“But this one…he’s dived.
“You can see there’s clear daylight between Shamal George’s arm and McAusland’s boot.
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“When VAR is looking at that, I can’t believe they’ve not said to Steven McLean that he needs to go over and look at the monitor and effectively change his decision.”
Host Jonathan Sutherland explained the official reasoning for the penalty was it was still a foul by the goalkeeper.
But pundit Mark Wilson wasn’t having that either.
He said “That’s nonsense.
“Anyone can clearly see – and I could see it in real time – that he’s gone down before the goalkeeper gets to him.
“From behind the goal you can clearly see he starts to go down before the goalkeeper even makes any contact.
“Is the argument that he makes contact with McAusland’s right foot? But he’s already going down.
“How can that be awarded a penalty kick?”
Both pundits, though, felt McCausland should have had a goal when VAR ruled out his effort for an earlier foul by Abdallah Sima.
Stewart added: “You end up going around the angles trying to see who’s fouled who or what’s happened first.
“It’s a great finish from McCausland – and do we want to see great goals? We probably do.
“It comes back to that whole debate about VAR where we’re analysing things to death during the game which is slowing things down.”
Wilson added: “He’s harshly done by here, the young man.
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“He should have had a goal as I can’t see much wrong with that.”
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