Ex-Uefa official has major ‘worry’ after Rangers referee phone call revealed
Keith Hackett has warned Don Robertson not to call Malky MacKay to discuss the decision to not send James Sands off in Rangers’ 4-0 win over Ross County on Saturday (27 August).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa, Uefa and Premier League referee warned it would threaten the integrity of Scottish officials.
Sands avoided a red card when he brought down Jordy Hiwula when he was the last defender after a ball over the top of the Gers defence.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, MacKay revealed Robertson had promised to call him the day after the game if he thought he had got the decision wrong after reviewing the footage.
“I take the view that the first thing is, 30 minutes after the game the manager should be allowed in the dressing room to talk to the referee,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Generally, if that manager goes in with a laptop to show that incident, often you can go in and seek clarity on the situation. The referee will say ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I disagree and stick with my decision’.
“I worry about referees who then pick the phone up outside that environment to have a discussion with the manager.
“That should be done by the boss of the referees, not the referee. That has to be the line of communication.
“Once you start the discussion with referees talking directly to managers in midweek, then you might have a problem.
“It could influence the next game and when does a discussion become an argument?
“If this referee rings him and says ‘I got it wrong, I apologise’ then in the next press conference the manager is going to say ‘By the way, the referee rang me in the week to say he got it wrong’.
“For integrity reasons, I’d have the boss of the referees having the discussions on behalf of the referee.”
In other news, Rangers have been tipped to agree a “big” Ryan Kent deal after a £25million development.