Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Jon McLaughlin gets unanimous Rangers red card row support as pundits offer 'genuine attempt for the ball' defence

Sportscene pundits unanimously agreed Rangers keeper Jon McLaughlin should not have been sent off against Dundee.

Dens Park boss James McPake raged at the full-time whistle that the stopper was only booked by Bobby Madden for conceding a penalty by tripping Paul McMullan in the box.

McLaughlin would go on to save Jason Cummings spot kick and condemn the Premiership strugglers to a 1-0 defeat.

According to the rule book a genuine attempt has to be to play the ball when bringing down an opposition player in the box to receive a yellow.

And the BBC pundits gave their support to the case that the Rangers man had lunged for the ball rather than the player.

Chris Iwelumo said: "Watching it live I thought not. When I see it back I think he's spot on.

" Jon McLaughlin comes out, I think actually initially to block a shot from McMullan. He does take him down, no doubt about the penalty.

"The arm is out because he's coming out to actually save a shot and then it goes down for balance. It's a genuine attempt for the ball.

"I think it's a yellow card and Bobby Madden's got that one spot on."

McFadden added: "I think that Bobby Madden's got it right. I think when you look at the speed, Jon McLaughlin comes out to block the shot.

"He does catch him. Bobby Madden's quick to make the decision. The only way I can say it is I don't think McLaughlin has intentionally tried to bring Paul McMullan down, I think he's tried to make himself big and block the shot."

Following the game, Dundee boss McPake said: “I know the rule is if you make a genuine attempt and people will disagree and say it's a genuine attempt. Paul McMullan is clearly by him and the leg comes out.

"If it's Adam Legzdins would my answer be different, probably not.

"I am just giving an honest opinion. Having seen it back I think the arm catches him as well. TV footage will maybe show that better. I am looking at it from a high camera.

"We miss the penalty but we still have half-an-hour to play with 11 v 10. I like the rule that if you make a genuine attempt it's not a red card offence but Paul McMullan is clearly by him by the time he makes an attempt.

“The rule is that if the goalkeeper makes a genuine attempt for the ball then it’s a booking.

“What I see is that Paul McMullan is clearly by McLaughlin and he pulls him down. If he’s making a genuine attempt then his leg’s already out and it looks to me as though the arm is out as well.

“It’s a genuine attempt to stop McMullan rather than a genuine attempt to get the ball."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.