Rangers boss Philippe Clement was left fuming with referee Nick Walsh’s decision to send off Mohamed Diomande during their clash with Dundee United.
Neil McCann and Billy Dodds backed Clement’s frustration over the red card incident, but former referees have warned that Rangers are unlikely to succeed in their appeal despite the Belgian manager’s plans to challenge the decision with the SFA. The match ended on a sour note for Clement, as Diomande was given a straight red after a tangle with Dundee United’s Holt.
The altercation saw Holt shove the Ivorian, who raised his hands in response. Walsh interpreted the action as an attempted strike and sent Diomande off after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor following a VAR intervention.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene, Dodds said: “I don’t think there’s much in it. There’s a little shove, and maybe he tries to claw at him, but it’s harsh. From another angle, you can see he’s just trying to regain his balance.”
Former Rangers player McCann added: “It’s not a red card. There’s no conclusive proof of contact. At worst, it’s a yellow card – maybe. They should definitely appeal it.”
However, ex-referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy, speaking on The Ref’s View X account, suggested the appeal would likely fail. They said, “While we don’t think this is red-card-worthy, the SFA will support Nick Walsh on the grounds of violent conduct and the definition of ‘strikes or attempts to strike an opponent.’ The SFA will back this decision by being overly pedantic.”
