Former referee Dermot Gallagher has dismissed Philippe Clement’s claims that Hibs were unfairly awarded a penalty at Ibrox, stating that it was the correct decision not to red card John Souttar for the handball that resulted in the spot kick. Gallagher clarified the difference between Souttar’s incident and a similar one that led to a sending off for Motherwell’s Dan Casey in their match against St Mirren.
Clement’s frustration with the penalty decision was evident as he passionately reenacted the incident in his post-match press conference, arguing that the spot kick should not have been given based on the rules discussed before the season. However, Gallagher disagreed, asserting that Souttar’s outstretched arm blocked a shot at goal and therefore warranted a penalty but not a red card.
Gallagher also shared his thoughts on other controversial incidents from the weekend in the Scottish Premiership, such as Nectarios Triantis’ booking for a foul on Robin Propper and Daizen Maeda’s disallowed goal after VAR intervention. He analyzed each situation with his expert opinion, providing clarity on the referee’s decisions.
Overall, Gallagher’s insights shed light on the complexities of refereeing in football and the importance of understanding the rules and nuances of each situation to make accurate calls on the field.
