During Sunday’s game between Rangers and St Mirren, Michael Stewart, a pundit, believes that St Mirren should have been given a penalty. Despite Philippe Clement’s team winning 2-1, there was a controversial moment in the second half. St Mirren’s Toyosi Olusanya was brought down by Rangers’ Neraysho Kasanwirjo in the box, but the referee decided it was a foul just outside the box instead. VAR did not intervene to review the decision. Stewart argued that the contact on Olusanya was enough to warrant a penalty kick.
Stewart’s analysis on BBC’s Sportscene highlighted the unseen contact that caused Olusanya to lose balance and fall. While Rangers emerged victorious, St Mirren’s manager, Stephen Robinson, expressed his dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions, including the penalty incident. Robinson mentioned that he usually does not seek explanations for decisions but felt compelled to do so on this occasion. Despite having two good chances and believing there was a penalty call in their favor, the explanations provided did not align with his perspective.
The controversy surrounding the penalty decision added an extra layer of drama to the game, with both sides having differing views on the incident. The match result favored Rangers, but the contentious moment involving St Mirren’s penalty shout sparked post-match discussions and debates among fans and analysts alike.
While VAR is intended to provide clarity and accuracy in decision-making, its absence in this instance left room for interpretation and raised questions about its effectiveness in crucial match situations. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding the role of technology in football and its impact on the outcome of games.
Moving forward, the controversy surrounding the penalty incident will likely prompt further discussions on the implementation of VAR and its influence on the game. The differing opinions from Stewart, Robinson, and other stakeholders highlight the subjective nature of refereeing decisions and the challenges faced in ensuring fairness and transparency in football matches. As the season progresses, incidents like these will continue to shape the narrative of the game and spark conversations among fans, players, and pundits.