Ally McCoist calls for yellow card TV evidence

RANGERS manager Ally McCoist has called for a mechanism to be introduced whereby cautions can be rescinded after Sone Aluko was the victim of a yellow card for diving.

The Nigerian was caught by the boot of goalkeeper Darren Randolph as he powered into the penalty box, only for referee Iain Brines to sanction the player for simulation.

Television replays highlighted that Aluko had been on the receiving end of a poor decision and McCoist believes these should be utilised, as they are presently only with red-card offences. “Anything that makes a wrong right can only be a good thing, whatever that may be,” the Rangers manager said. “Someone could surely have a look at it. The same thing could have happened later on and he would have been off and we couldn’t have appealed three wrong decisions because it would have been one booking and another booking.”

McCoist was troubled by the fact that, after Aluko was given a retrospective two-match ban for a dive that won a penalty against Dunfermline in December, he could be in danger of becoming a marked man for referees.

“I felt sorry for the kid, because he could have his reputation tarnished as a diver when he is absolutely not,” said McCoist.

Brines allowed McCoist to visit him in his referee’s room afterwards to explain a decision he then stood by, having not yet reviewed television evidence. “He told me his reasons [for the card],” the Rangers manager said. “I don’t have to agree with them, but I was just grateful he let me come to see him.”

Meanwhile, a report claiming Rangers administrators had received a £2 million bid for Steven Naismith from West Bromwich Albion was questioned by McCoist. “Not to my knowledge,” he said of whether the offer had been made.

“The administrators have been very good on keeping me up-to-date on everything, so I’d be surprised if there had been a £2m bid and I didn’t know about it.”