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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Aberdeen star lucky to avoid red for Rangers tackle, ref expert says what saved him

Aberdeen midfielder Leighton Clarkson was fortunate not to have been red carded against Rangers.

The Dons fell to a bruising 3-0 defeat at Ibrox on Wednesday night to take their Scottish Premiership winless run to 12 games. 

The former Liverpool starlet caught Rangers' Ridvan Yilmaz with a late challenge during the encounter, but referee Kevin Clancy and his officials deemed a yellow was a strong enough punishment. 

However, discussing the incident which occurred on the 74th minute with Rangers just a goal ahead, refereeing expert Dermot Gallagher suggested the player should probably have been dismissed and went on to question the reasons why VAR chose to stick with Clancy's original decision.

(Image: Sky Sports)


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Speaking to Sky Sports, the retired Premier League whistler said: "I actually think this is a red card. If you watch, I think what saves him is that he slows up just before he gets there. 

"Whether the referee thinks that's stopped the intensity or the impact, I don't know.

(Image: Sky Sports) "But I think if you apply your studs that high up on a player then you run a massive risk. If he got a red card he couldn't argue."

Clarkson was previously handed a two-game ban in September 2022 after admitting to a Scottish FA charge of "serious foul play" during Aberdeen's draw with Ross County. 

The Dons star was only booked at the time for a challenge on Callum Johnson, which then County boss Malky Mackay dubbed a "leg-breaker".

(Image: Mark Scates - SNS Group)

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