Ex-Premier League referee Gallagher queries costly disallowed Dessers’ assist

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.

The Nigerian international thought he had assisted Kemar Roofe to give Rangers the lead but a VAR review showed he had committed a foul in the build-up.

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.

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.

Celtics went on to win the first Old Firm derby of the season, thanks to Kyogo Furuhashi’s goal before halftime as Robertson’s decision to disallow the goal proved costly.

“The Referee has got it absolutely correct on the pitch – it’s not a foul. Dessers gets in front of him,” Gallagher said on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch.

“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.”