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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

St Mirren vs Rangers penalty and red card in 'biggest surprise' ref watch verdict

Former referee Dermot Gallagher insists Ryan Strain was correctly sent off for a handball against Rangers with Nick Walsh also pointing to the penalty spot.

The St Mirren defender handled the ball from a Zak Lovelace cross and in turn diverted away from Abdallah Sima who was lurking at the far post.

Steven Kirkland on VAR checked the incident and called whistler Walsh to the monitor where he agreed on a handball offence.

And Walsh also produced a red card for Strain denying a clear goal scoring opportunity by handling the ball in the box.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Ref Watch, Gallagher viewed the incident and praised the Scottish officials for the call as he admitted his biggest surprise was the awareness to make the decision.

The former official admitted he didn't spot the handball infringement when first watching the clip.

He said: “My biggest surprise is, seriously, how well it was picked up.

"When I saw the clip earlier today I said 'What’s the problem?’ and they showed me three or four times and said ‘Well, it’s handball’.

"So for the VAR to pick that up in normal play and tell the referee to stop and go and look at the screen is amazing. But absolutely 100 per cent correct decision.”

On the decision, St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson commented: "The red card changes the whole game. People have to make decisions in the game. It’s just a reaction from him. It’s a poor decision – we know that – and the referee gets it 100 per cent correct.

“I was miles away and thought at first it had hit a Rangers hand but obviously it didn’t. But it’s definitely a sending-off."

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