Kettlewell: Lines could have been skewed over VAR
Stuart Kettlewell has called for VAR clarity after losing his first game as Motherwell boss.
Kettlewell reckons Fashion Sakala was offside before the Zambian provided the cross that Todd Cantwell scored from to put Rangers 3-2 ahead.
Video official Andrew Dallas had a look at it – as the officials do after every goal – and decided it was a fair goal.
But Kettlewell reckons the lines were drawn wrong on the VAR screen and felt it was a turning point in the game that Rangers went on to win 4-2.
The former Ross County boss said: “I need some clarity on some of the bigger calls in the game.
“I mean by that the Sakala offside for the third goal, which was a massive moment.
“I’m not calling anybody out, I’m just asking for clarity.
“For the third goal it looks to me that our player Dan Casey is the blue line which is behind the red line which is Sakala from the pictures I’ve seen.
“It looks like he’s offside. We never berated the referee or the fourth official, we’re not hammering the system in any way but it’s a big goal at a big time.
“When I was on the other side as a pundit and not managing Motherwell, the one thing I always stood by was the fact the clubs paid for this system so these calls were crystal clear.
“We know if they’re offside or not. There are no opinions in it, there are no grey areas. But coming away from the game today I think there is a bit of a grey area.
“We’ve not had too many of them across the game to this point.
“But the third goal for Rangers today really does plant a seed of doubt in my head. I’ll seek a little bit of clarity on it as, as it stands just now, I think Sakala was offside.”
Kettlewell also felt the second booking shown to Callum Slattery for catching Todd Cantwell with his arm was harsh.
He added: “There’s contact but he’s trying to protect the ball and he’s not aware of the guy behind him and the contact’s made on Cantwell’s shoulder.
“I don’t think there’s anything in it. I don’t think he’s trying to hurt the opponent.
“There’s contact with the shoulder but when two players come together sometimes there will be some kind of contact. But for me that’s never a second yellow card.
“I feel frustrated for him and also for the group as by the end of the game Rangers were crossing the ball into our box and getting opportunities and I don’t think that was the game until then.”