Controversy as ref Muir’s mistakes lead to TWO goals

Alan Muir was at the centre of fresh controversy last night as Rangers took a big step towards a play-off semi-final clash with Hibs.

The official was the assistant referee who failed to spot Caley Thistle defender Josh Meekings saving Leigh Griffiths’ goal-bound effort with his hand when Inverness beat Celtic to reach the Scottish Cup Final three weeks ago.

Former Celtic star Chris Sutton later said neither he nor Steven McLean, who was in charge on the day, should ever be allowed to take charge of a big game.

And at Palmerston Park yesterday, Muir was criticised by both Rangers and Queen of the South after failing to spot fouls committed in two of the three goals in the Light Blues’ 2-1 victory.

“I am a bit disappointed about their goal,” said Rangers boss Stuart McCall, who warned that, despite his team’s victory, the tie was by no means over.

“We made the officials aware before that Queen of the South players bear hug. Ricky Foster mentioned it to the referee, a couple of players had already mentioned it.

“But, if you see it, it’s clear. They work it well. If you get away with it, it’s a block, a bear hug. It’s a rugby tackle and the referee was looking right at it, I believe.”

While McCall didn’t name the offender, Chris Higgins’ block on Foster was at the centre of a pile up from which Queens scored.

But the home side were equally unhappy, with McCall conceding they, too, had a case.

Defender Andy Dowie angrily claimed Haris Vuckic had admitted to him that he was the offender, not the victim, at the free-kick from which Steve Smith netted Rangers first.

“When the other player involved in the incident tells you it is a foul, then it must be a foul,” he said.

“You would hope the referee would spot it. He is in the perfect position.”