Rangers are preparing to appeal against Mohamed Diomande’s controversial red card in their 3-1 Scottish Premiership weekend win at Dundee United.
Philippe Clement’s side battled back at Tannadice Park to secure victory and close the title gap to ten points behind leaders Celtic.
However, despite a rousing late rally from the visitors, there was on late negative in added time as Diomande was dismissed for a second booking.
Refereee Nick Walsh opted to show the Rangers midfielder a second yellow card after a clash with Kevin Holt where he appeared to raise his hands into the latter’s face.
Don Robertson in the VAR room sent Walsh to the pitchside monitor to review the incident and he backed his original call to send off the Ivory Coast international.
? RED CARD!
Mohamed Diomande is sent off right at the end! ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/LSzsObitSV
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 26, 2025
Clement raged against the decision after the game, with Rangers confident of seeing Diomande’s one-game suspension overturned, and former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was baffled by Walsh’s thinking.
“I was A) Surprised the red card came out and B) Surprised that when Nick was sent to the screen he stuck with his original decision,” he told Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, via the Daily Record.
“He [Diomande] gets a push, twice, he raises his arms – does he connect with his face? Does he mean to connect with his face? The other thing to remember is brutal or malicious, but I don’t think it’s either.”
Diomande will be eligible for Rangers’ UEFA Europa League clash with Union Saint-Gilloise on January 30, as any ban would only apply to domestic games, but he will miss the home game against Ross County on February 2 if he is unsuccessful in the appeal.
