Rangers: Don Robertson explains Dundee postponement decision after Philippe Clement comments
Referee Don Robertson has weighed in on the decision to postpone the Dundee versus Rangers match, prompted by remarks from Philippe Clement.
Clement, the Rangers manager, expressed his frustration at the announcement, which came just ninety minutes before the scheduled 12 pm kickoff on Sunday, March 17th.
Highlighting that this could be the sole match called off across Scotland that weekend, Clement’s reaction drew attention. However, Robertson maintains that the decision was straightforward.
“We opted to postpone today’s match, unfortunately,” Robertson stated during an interview on Sky Sports News.
“The primary concern for me is the safety of the players. There are noticeable areas, particularly around one of the dugouts, where conditions are unsafe.”
He explained further, “We had to lay down a significant amount of sand due to waterlogging. The ball wasn’t moving or bouncing properly, so deeming it unsafe to play was a clear decision for me.”
When asked if the decision could have been made earlier, Robertson explained, “We rely on the assessment of the home club, who have the first look at the pitch. Upon their arrival this morning, they identified concerns and alerted the league and the Scottish FA.”
“A local official then conducted an initial inspection, but it was agreed by all parties—the clubs and the SPFL—that we would wait until 10:15, a mutually agreed time, to make a final decision regarding the pitch’s condition.”
“At 10:15, I made the decision to postpone the match.”
This postponement marks the fourth time this season that Dundee has had to call off games at Dens Park due to waterlogged pitches. While uncontrollable heavy rain plays a part, it’s evident that the surface is not up to standard.
Despite efforts from the club staff to make the game playable, it was deemed insufficient, leading to the officials’ decision to postpone.
Clement’s frustration is understandable, especially since his team had already arrived at Dens Park by the time of the announcement.
This raises questions about whether the decision could have been delayed by another hour or so, especially considering the improving weather conditions and the potential recoverability of the pitch.
The fact that the game was being televised live by Sky Sports might have also influenced the decision-making process.
Now, Rangers must adjust their schedule to accommodate this additional game after the international break, with Celtic currently holding the top spot for at least the next two weeks.
