Referee watch: Rangers v Kilmarnock, half-time verdict, is VAR asleep?

It wouldn’t be the first time a Rangers against Kilmarnock game had a contentious refereeing decision,

but how did David Dickinson handle the first half?

Gers manager Philippe Clement was fully expecting a hard encounter, but his squad will have been ready

to mix it from the start; there is an intensity to our approach that was lacking earlier in the season.

VAR was called into doubt again this week, and there was no way we could get through 90 minutes of

Rangers against Kilmarnock without some kind of dispute. Scottish FA Rangers referee

Rangers against Kilmarnock, referee watch

Andrew Dallas is on VAR duty and must have nipped out to make a cup of coffee when Donaldson

pointed to the spot without hesitation for Kilmarnock’s opener.

There was the normal wait, during which Dallas was expected to point his colleague toward the screen.

The fact that John Lundstram handled the ball while blocking a cross is undeniable.

There is no denying that it struck his arm.

But, and this is a major but, we’re all aware that the handball laws have changed.

Factors like silhouette and making the body larger are important.

Lundstram’s arm is plainly down the side of his body; when the ball hits it, he is in the air and facing

sideways.

If it hadn’t hit his arm, it would have struck his body.

It could not have been more evident.

We’ve all seen what pressure on officials has resulted in in the past, and given the storyline this season,

what official will reverse a penalty call against the Rangers?

VAR is used to correct apparent and obvious errors, as well as to provide the on-field referee with a new

perspective on his judgments.

Unfortunately for Rangers on this occasion, the VAR official was sleeping.

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