Stephen Robinson rages at St Mirren red card as he insists Dundee United didn’t think ref penalty call was right
Marcus Fraser was dealt a hammerblow after VAR intervention
Dundee United manager Stephen Robinson has expressed his fury over a controversial red card handed to his player, Marcus Fraser, during his team’s clash with St Mirren. The decision, which came after a VAR intervention, has left Robinson questioning the consistency and fairness of referee decisions in Scottish football.
In the heated encounter, Fraser was initially shown a yellow card after a challenge on St Mirren’s Jonah Ayunga. However, after a VAR review, referee Don Robertson upgraded the yellow card to a red, much to the displeasure of Robinson and the Dundee United squad. The penalty was also awarded to St Mirren, compounding Fraser’s predicament and leaving the visitors with a man down for much of the match.
Robinson was quick to voice his discontent after the game, insisting that the decision was harsh and that his team did not believe the penalty was warranted. “From our point of view, we didn’t think it was a penalty. It wasn’t a clear and obvious error,” Robinson fumed in his post-match interview. “The red card was another blow to us, and it really affected the way the game unfolded. We didn’t think there was enough in the challenge to warrant a red card, but that’s the decision we were left with.”
The Dundee United manager was also critical of the role of VAR in influencing the outcome. While the technology was intended to help eliminate clear errors, Robinson felt that it had instead added more confusion and inconsistency. “VAR is supposed to help make decisions clearer, but it feels like it’s just making things more complicated and unfair,” he added.
The red card for Fraser left Dundee United facing an uphill battle, and St Mirren capitalized on the numerical advantage, going on to secure a 2-1 victory. The result was a bitter blow for Dundee United, who were already struggling in the league and needed a positive result to improve their position.
Robinson’s frustration at the officiating was palpable, and he urged the authorities to address what he perceives as inconsistencies in the use of VAR and the standard of refereeing in the Scottish Premiership. He believes that such decisions are negatively affecting the game and harming the integrity of matches.
The controversy surrounding Fraser’s red card and the penalty decision has added fuel to ongoing debates about the effectiveness and fairness of VAR in Scottish football.
