Ex-Premier League ref questions Dessers’ assist ruling in Old Firm derby

Cyriel Dessers joined Rangers for £5m this summer after a year in Italy with AS Cremonese and has managed just 2 goals in 9 appearances so far for the 55-time Scottish champions 

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes that Kemar Roofe’s goal for Rangers which was assisted by Nigerian striker Cyriel Dessers over the weekend should not have been ruled out, Soccernet.ng reports.

In the 437th meeting between the two old rivals at the Ibrox Stadium on Sunday, Rangers thought they had taken the lead in the 28th minute when Kemar Roofe powered a direct shot past Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Referee Don Robertson had initially allowed the goal to stand before changing his mind after watching an incident that was adjudged as a foul by Dessers on Celtic defender Gustaf Largerbielke in the build-up to the goal after the intervention of the VAR.

Robertson’s decision to disallow the goal later proved costly for Rangers as Japanese Kyogo Furuhashi’s first-half stoppage-time goal gave Celtic a 1-0 victory in the first Old Firm derby of the season.

However, Gallagher, who has one-time refereed in the Premier League believes that it was a wrong call to disallow the goal as Dessers’ challenge was legitimate.

The Referee has got it absolutely correct on the pitch – it’s not a foul. Dessers gets in front of him.

All I can think is when he gets to the screen if he thinks he has pushed him. If VAR hadn’t intervened no one would really have been complaining, Gallagher said on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch 

This Dessers’ incident is just one of many debatable decisions that influenced the results of matches over the weekend.

The decisions to rule out Nathan Ake’s goal for Manchester City against Fulham and Alejandro Garnacho’s offside in Manchester United’s defeat to Arsenal were some of the controversial talking points from the weekend’s action.

Dessers has contributed 2 goals and 2 assists in nine games for Rangers since his arrival this summer and will aim to help his club bounce back in their next game against St Johnstone which comes up directly after the International break.

He has not been called up to the Super Eagles squad for the dead rubber Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.