'No question' - Ex-FIFA Ref hits out after Rangers v Hearts controversy: 'Use some common sense'
Keith Hackett insists Hearts should have been awarded a free-kick just outside the box against Rangers before the final whistle on Sunday. The Light Blues... The post 'No question' - Ex-FIFA Ref hits out after Rangers v Hearts controversy: 'Use some common sense' appeared first on Ibrox News.
Keith Hackett insists Hearts should have been awarded a free-kick just outside the box against Rangers before the final whistle on Sunday.
The Light Blues beat Hearts 1-0 at Ibrox on 10 November, courtesy of an early goal from Cyriel Dessers, but could have conceded a dangerous free-kick at the stroke of full-time after Blair Spittal’s shot struck Kieran Dowell’s arm.
Hackett questioned referee Matthew MacDermid for blowing the final whistle instead of letting the visitors take a free-kick, telling him to use “some common sense”.
Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, Hackett, an ex-FIFA referee and PGMOL chief said: “I think the one thing you should learn as a referee is when to blow to end the game.
“There is no question. The game doesn’t have an independent timekeeper – the referee is the sole timekeeper.
Rangers controversy v Hearts addressed
“For the good of the game, it was a handball offence and it should have been a free-kick. He should have allowed it to be taken and then blown his whistle. He’s prematurely stopped the game.
“I’m critical of it because it mirrors a similar situation years ago when Clive Thomas awarded a corner-kick in a Brazil game and he blew his whistle before the ball was in the back of the net. Use some common sense.“
It was not the most convincing performance by Rangers, but they will be glad to have claimed all three points and remain within nine points of Celtic and Aberdeen.
Hearts failed to get a single shot on target on Sunday, but one can only wonder what would have happened if MacDermid let them take the free-kick before blowing the final whistle.
In other Rangers news, Michael Stewart was stunned by what Nedim Bajrami did against Hearts.
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The post 'No question' - Ex-FIFA Ref hits out after Rangers v Hearts controversy: 'Use some common sense' appeared first on Ibrox News.
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