Late Postponement of Rangers Match Angers Club and Fans

Rangers have expressed strong disappointment and frustration over the last-minute cancellation of their scheduled match against Dundee.

Initially set to kick off at noon, the game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch after a second inspection at 10:15 GMT. This marks the fourth match postponement at Dundee’s Dens Park this season, attributed to heavy rainfall.

Referee Don Robertson cited safety concerns for players, noting specific areas where the ball wasn’t rolling properly. While Dundee’s chief executive, John Nelms, defended the efforts taken to prepare the pitch, Rangers were blindsided by the decision and voiced their discontent over the inconvenience caused to their traveling supporters.

In a statement, Rangers conveyed their extreme disappointment with the late call-off and questioned why the home club failed to communicate potential issues earlier, considering previous pitch problems. The team had already arrived at the stadium when the decision was made, with thousands of fans in attendance, aggravating the situation further.

Manager Philippe Clement echoed the sentiment, calling the situation a poor representation of the league, especially given the national broadcast coverage the match was set to receive on Sky Sports. The abrupt discovery of the pitch issue by the Rangers’ kit man added to the unusual circumstances surrounding the postponement.

With Rangers trailing behind league leaders Celtic by just one point and a game in hand, the postponement further complicates their title race as they head into the international break. Dundee, who have struggled in their previous encounters with Rangers this season, currently sit in seventh place in the Scottish Premiership table.

John Nelms explained that the amount of rainfall exceeded expectations, with groundsmen working tirelessly since the early hours but ultimately running out of time to make the pitch playable. He speculated that a later kick-off time might have allowed for the match to proceed despite the challenging conditions.