Chris Sutton said it was a “clear dive” when winger Ross McCausland was handed a penalty in the first half for Rangers against Livingston on Sunday (12 November).
Speaking on Sky Sports Main Event on Sunday (12:59pm), the pundit said the 20-year-old Northern Irishman should have been booked when he went down under a challenge from keeper Shamal George.
He went on to say that there should never have been a penalty and that “justice” was served when James Tavernier, the captain of the Gers, missed the ensuing spot kick, allowing the Light Blues to win 2-0.
“It’s a clear dive,” said Sutton. “I don’t understand how the VAR official isn’t talking to the referee. He goes down so early. Watch this angle, he’s already on his way down McCausland, who’s had a good first half, he’s been a threat.
“But that is a dive, he should be cautioned. That should never have been a penalty and this was probably justice from Livingston’s perspective.”
It’s one of those decisions where the VAR was probably always going to stick with the referee’s decision as it wasn’t a clear and obvious error.
It’s no surprise to see Sutton calling for McCausland to be carded as he tends to always speak out against any decision that goes the Gers’ way.
There was contact, but it’s up for debate as to whether that was initiated by the Light Blues winger as he took the ball past the Livingston keeper.
It didn’t actually matter in the end, though, as it was a huge surprise to see Tavernier step up and send his effort past the post.
There was no question that the Englishman would step up to the spot for a second time and he will have been pleased to have found the back of the net.
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