Exclusive: Ex-FIFA ref dismisses Cyriel Dessers incident in Rangers v Dundee Utd
Keith Hackett has reacted to appeals for a penalty from Rangers during their clash with Dundee United at Ibrox.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that there was not enough in a challenge on Cyriel Dessers to warrant a spot kick being awarded.
Rangers claimed a 3-1 win over Dundee United at Ibrox on Wednesday night (14 May) as they built on their thrashing of Aberdeen from the weekend.
After falling behind when Samuel Cleall-Harding headed in his first goal for the visitors after 20 minutes, Dessers equalised by heading home Jefte’s cross just five minutes later.
Not long after that, the two goalscorers would then come into direct contact with each other, prompting VAR to briefly get involved.
Cyriel Dessers brought down by Samuel Cleall-Harding
Having found their equaliser, Rangers would continue to enjoy the most of the possession and territory as they went in search of a second goal to take the lead.
With 35 minutes on the clock, Vaclav Cerny played a ball into the feet of Dessers on the edge of the six-year box inside the Dundee United penalty area.
| Cyriel Dessers vs Dundee United | Total (SofaScore) |
| Goals | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 4 |
| Shots off Target | 2 |
| Successful Dribbles | 0/3 |
| Accurate Passes | 9/13 |
| Duels Won | 1/7 |
Before the striker could turn to get his shot away, he was brought to ground after a sliding challenge from behind by Cleall-Harding.
As the ball then ran out of play, VAR briefly instructed referee Calum Scott to delay the restart in order to check for a potential penalty to the hosts.
In the end, no on-field review was recommended, ensuring the decision remained no penalty to Rangers, with Hackett agreeing with VAR’s decision both to check the challenge and then not award a penalty.
Rangers rightly not given penalty vs Dundee United
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of the decision not to award that penalty to the ‘Gers, the former referee said:
“The challenge was certainly worth of a review by VAR. I support his recommendation to allow the game to continue.
“Football is a contact sport and frankly I do not see a foul challenge worthy of the award of a penalty kick. Correct call.”
The hosts would later win a penalty which Dessers would convert just moments before Nico Raskin struck to round out the scoring.
It remains to be seen whether results such as these will be enough to earn interim manager Barry Ferguson the Rangers manager’s job on a permanent basis.
The Gers’ former midfielder will end his temporary spell in charge when they travel to Easter Road to face Hibernian on the final day of the season on Saturday (17 May).