Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell has revealed he has held crunch talks with SFA Head of Football Operations following the clash with Rangers.
The victory for Michael Beale's side was packed with incidents with the visitors eventually running out winners in Lanarkshire against the Steelmen, but Kettlewell was left frustrated by the decision that allowed Todd Cantwell to score the third Rangers goal. Motherwell felt Fashion Sakala appeared to be in an offside position when he whipped the ball into the box, which was then converted by Cantwell in a goalmouth scramble to give the Ibrox side the lead.
Referee Nick Walsh was not sent to the monitor by VAR Andrew Dallas to review the incident – as in line with protocol – with the lines that were applied to the pitch in Lanarkshire showing the Zambian was onside. With Rangers leading 4-2, Callum Slattery was shown his second yellow card of the afternoon when Cantwell went down clutching his face after contract from the Motherwell midfielder.
Kettlewell has now revealed that he raised the flashpoints with the Hampden chief as he called for an explanation over the crucial incidents. Speaking to BBC Sportsound about Slattery's red card, he said: "I think that's the biggest frustration for me.
"It's not a second yellow but with the player's reaction, and I've said this to Crawford Allan this morning and had a conversation with him. And look it was an amicable conversation, I just had a couple of questions I wanted answers on - but I did say I realise Nick Walsh's job become incredibly difficult when the player goes down in the fashion that he did, holding his face.
"There was contact, but it wasn't in his face. This is when you start to become frustrated. It's a difficult one for Nick Walsh with the scenario he was given, but I don't think it was a yellow card."
He also called for clarity after Sakala was adjudged to be onside following the VAR check, adding: "It has explained to be exactly how the officials see it, and how the guys in the VAR HQ see it. For me on the Max Johnston one the attacker's line (for Kevin van Veen's opening goal) was behind the defender's line, but you could argue they were touching.
"For me on the Sakala one, I felt that the defender's line was behind the attacker's line. Crawford Allan has cleared that one up for me. They now say that if the attacker's lines are touching the advantage is going to go to the attacker."
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