‘Stupid’ Mohamed Diomande blasted as ex-refs chief re-analyses Rangers vs Hearts footage
Mohamed Diomande’s decision-making gave referee Steve McLean an easy choice when awarding a penalty against Rangers.
That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that, while he was unconvinced by the level of contact, he could not argue against the decision.
Russell Martin is under crushing pressure at Rangers already, just 12 matches into his tenure, and a fifth-straight match without a win has hardly helped the former Southampton boss.
Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland came back to haunt Rangers, scoring a brace at Ibrox on Saturday, 13 September, having previously been a major transfer target for the hierarchy.
Lawrence Shankland pounces on a mistake by Mohamed Diomande
Supporters were stunned that Shankland’s first goal was not disallowed for handball earlier in the build-up, but there was very little arguing as he scored the rebound to his saved penalty in the 82nd minute.
Jack Butland has been criticised at Rangers lately, but he made a decent save and could do nothing about the follow-up. It was the initial awarding of the penalty that Hackett was slightly confused by.
In replays, there appeared to be very little contact between Diomande and Harry Milne, but with VAR not getting involved, the former PGMOL chief admitted that the right call had probably been made.
Steven McLean should have taken a second look at Rangers controversy
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “The referee is in a brilliant position, no question. But that’s a really tight call… I’m struggling to see contact here. As is normal, a player in that position goes down.
“When you point to the penalty spot, you have to be certain that contact has been made. One can only assume that VAR checked it and determined that contact has been made.
“Looking at the face of that video, though… The Rangers player [Diomande] sticking his leg out is a stupid move, giving the referee a decision to make. VAR must agree with it.
“Referees get what we don’t sometimes – the sound of contact. The referee should have been asked to go to the monitor, though.”