Ex-FIFA referee reviews Dujon Sterling red card controversy in Dundee vs Rangers

Former FIFA referee Bobby Madden has reviewed Dujon Sterling’s controversial yellow card during the 2-2 draw between Dundee and Rangers on Saturday (17 October), addressing claims that the right-back should have been sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

The high-friction moment occurred in the 77th minute at Dens Park when Sterling brought down Alan Forrest near the halfway line. With Forrest threatening to race clear on goal, Dundee players and supporters passionately appealed for a straight red card, arguing that the Ibrox star was the last man and had committed a DOGSO offence.

Refereeing decisions from Duncan Nicolson and Co. during the tense encounter sparked fierce post-match debate across Scottish football, with supporters questioning whether the VAR system should have intervened to upgrade Sterling’s booking to a sending-off.

Analysing the sequence on the So Near, Yet So VAR channel on YouTube (Monday, 19 October), Madden backed Nicolson’s original decision, highlighting key factors regarding ball trajectory and distance from goal that justified maintaining a yellow card.

He said: “I know people talk about the Dundee vs Rangers game. Denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity? The ball’s going out of the pitch.”

In addition to evaluating Sterling’s challenge, Madden turned his attention to an early incident inside the Dundee penalty box that had Rangers fans demanding a spot-kick. In the eighth minute of the match, with the scoreline still deadlocked at 0-0, a strike from Minsu Kim bounced off the turf before making contact with Ryan Astley’s arm.

While Rangers players immediately turned to signal for a handball decision, Nicolson waved play on without VAR intervention. Madden offered a firm rebuttal to suggestions that Rangers were denied a clear penalty, maintaining that the ricochet off the ground meant Astley could not be penalised under current handball guidelines.

Madden added: “They’re talking about a potential handball. It’s never a handball.”

With Madden’s authoritative analysis putting both major officiating controversies to rest, Rangers can now turn their complete focus towards Saturday’s upcoming Scottish Premiership encounter against St Johnstone at Ibrox.