Peter Grant has voiced his belief that Rangers forward Jefte should have been sent off in their League Cup final against Celtic on Sunday for a studs-up foul on Nicolas Kuhn.
The thrilling encounter ended 3-3 after 120 minutes before Rangers fell short in a 5-4 penalty shootout.
The aftermath of the match has been dominated by controversy, particularly after the Scottish Football Association admitted that Rangers should have been awarded a penalty during the game.
However, footage has since emerged of Jefte’s reckless challenge on Kuhn, leading Grant to claim that this decision overshadowed the penalty controversy. Speaking on Go Radio [17 December: 2:40], Grant remarked:
“Don’t hear you talking about Jefte in the first half when it’s a red card for the tackle.”
Jefte could have been sent off for Rangers:
Jefte’s challenge, a studs-up foul on the back of Kuhn’s leg, occurred in the first half and could easily have seen him dismissed. Such a decision would have left Rangers in a precarious position for the remainder of the match. Despite this, the Gers also had legitimate grievances of their own, particularly regarding the penalty that was not awarded – a moment that could have shifted the momentum of the final in their favour.
While the SFA’s admission of error regarding the penalty is notable, it does little to change the outcome. As Grant pointed out, decisions of this magnitude simply cannot go wrong, especially in a match of such importance with VAR available.
Jefte’s tackle may have gone unpunished on the day, but it adds weight to the argument that officiating mistakes, whether in favour or against, should not define such high-profile games.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement may take solace in the fact his side avoided a red card and finished with 11 players, but his focus must now turn to ensuring similar levels of performance in the league as they aim to bounce back from this heartbreaking defeat.
