During a live discussion regarding VAR on March 9, the BBC Sport pundit challenged the former SPFL referee’s interpretation of the incident involving Dan Casey’s challenge at Ibrox on March 2, which resulted in the Gers winger being substituted and leaving the pitch on crutches despite there being no foul.
The Well defender’s quick play “endangering the safety” of McCausland, according to Madden, was a red card offence. An irate Stewart argued that this was an attempt to take all risk out of the game, saying that it wasn’t “football as any of us know it.”
“That’s an interesting one because I’ve not heard anybody else that’s actually said that,” Stewart responded. It makes me feel a little sorry for John Lundstram. I agree with Bobby that it’s understandable why the player was awarded the penalty because his arm appears to be flying up and away from his body in an instant.
“I’ve watched this so many times and I’ve jumped between yellow and red,” Madden remarked (25m 25s). Ultimately, I was called for a major foul because of how quickly he accepted the challenge.
The former referee went on, “Playing the ball’s not an excuse,” as Stewart was reportedly seen in the background shaking his head and pulling a face. I consider it to be jeopardising safety when someone takes on a challenge at such speed.
“Essentially you’re saying football is going to be a non-contact sport,” Stewart retorted. What else should Dan Casey accomplish?
“You see, when Casey makes the challenge, the foot, that extension of his boot sole, it comes up,” Madden remarked. It doesn’t seem like a natural action to me. That does not establish communication, I know. That definitely would have been a red card.
Thus, if we address what truly occurred at that time, Stewart shot back.
“The pace on the left foot in that challenge, contacting the opponent’s shin, is dangerous,” Madden went on.
“Ross McCausland got injured there for everything you’re told as a player,” shot back an irate Stewart. “Avoid hanging a leg.” You will injure yourself if you dangle a leg. In the event that a still image of the occurrence is taken, Ross McCausland’s leg is always higher than Dan Casey’s.
“McCausland also shouldn’t receive punishment for that.” He feels uneasy about the task. Dan Casey is a 70-30 tackler. Beyond what he accomplished, Casey had no other options. He’s naturally rushing into a tackle; instead of accelerating or lifting his leg, he kicks the ball.
Ross McCausland comes into contact with his leg. Playing football requires you to acknowledge that there is a chance that you will make contact with your opponent. I don’t think any of us want to know that there is no such thing as a football game as we know it if you want to completely eliminate risk. In my view, that is hardly a red card.
“Even if it’s a foul and possibly a yellow card, I could be convinced that it’s a bit harsh because I’m thinking, ‘What else can Dan Casey do there?'”
“There are a lot of people who are all or nothing,” acknowledged Madden. Either there is no foul or the player gets sent off completely. That presents a challenge. I did truly waver between the two.
Ross McCausland injury in Rangers loss to Motherwell disputed
After the 2-1 loss, Philippe Clement was not thrilled with his teenage winger being “kicked off the pitch.” The fact that Casey scored the game’s winning goal probably made him even more irate.
It’s evident that referees struggle to please everyone when some commentators think the challenge was poor, while others argue the tackle was uncalled for and that it was just a case of physical play in Scotland.
They hurt themselves sometimes by taking decisions that almost no one can understand, but both Madden and Stewart acknowledged that if the former had flipped a card and the latter was persuaded it was worth a booking after all, then their positions were subject to change.
It’s possible that McCausland’s injuries would have gone unnoticed, but his injuries arguably demonstrate that Casey put his opponent in risk from the start.
Although not everyone who sustains an injury has to be penalised, he accepted the challenge with a level of skill that was once commendable but is now often seen as excessive.
The Rangers’ midweek 2-2 draw with Benfica appears to have spared McCausland from serious injury, as he was able to enter the game late from the bench. The Light Blues’ league home loss was a frustrating day overall, as they finished second, but they might have salvaged a point if the incident had been penalised.
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