Ex-PGMOL boss reacts to Rangers penalty incident vs Dundee
03/31/2025 11:24 AM
David Dickinson’s decision not to award Rangers a penalty during their dramatic win over Dundee has been reviewed by Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider there was not enough contact in a challenge from Cesar Garza on Danilo Pereira to warrant the award of a spot kick.
It was a dramatic meeting as the two sides met at Dens Park on Saturday (29 March), with action from start to finish.
In the end, Rangers would claim a 4-3 victory over Dundee, as Barry Ferguson continues to stake his claim to get a permanent spot in the Ibrox dugout.
There were some key decisions over the course of that game that did not go in favour of the Ibrox club, although in some cases that may have been correctly.
Rangers penalty claims dismissed over Cesar Garza challenge
Dundee went in front after just 90 seconds of the game, though Rangers may be unhappy a push on Mohamed Diomande was not penalised as Simon Murray converted from a corner, which Hackett was amazed didn’t draw more protests.
After the hosts doubled their lead through Joe Shaughnessy, the same player then scored an own goal to get Ferguson’s side back in the game.
Although Dundee would make it 3-1 to restore their two-goal lead, a stunning strike from James Tavernier got Rangers back into the game.
| Scottish Premiership position | Played | Points |
| 1. Celtic | 31 | 78 |
| 2. Rangers | 31 | 65 |
It was shortly after that when the visitors felt they should have had a penalty, as Pereira went down after a challenge from Garza just inside the Dundee area.
Replays appeared to suggest that the Mexican may have caught the boot of the Rangers man as well as the ball, but VAR did not intervene after Dickinson elected not to give a penalty on-field.
Hackett does not believe there was enough to warrant a penalty being awarded, with goals from Tom Lawrence and Cyriel Dessers later giving the ‘Gers the win regardless.
Keith Hackett assesses Danilo Pereira penalty claim
After being asked by Football Insider whether that challenge from Garza should have led to the award of a penalty, Hackett said:
“Good judgement by the referee on this. Football is a contact sport and I see no [foul] committed in law.”
Both sides are next in action on Saturday (5 April), when Rangers host Hibernian and Dundee welcome St Mirren to Dens Park.
The post Ex-PGMOL boss reacts to Rangers penalty incident vs Dundee appeared first on Football Insider.
