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Football

30th Sep 2018

Linesman left bleeding after being hit by missile in Rangers’ defeat to Livingston

The official was patched up by medical staff

Darragh Murphy

Sunday afternoon proved to be a frustrating one for Rangers supporters.

Steven Gerrard’s side struggled in the final third as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Livingston, meaning they remain eight points off Hearts’ lead at the top of the table after seven games played.

A Dolly Menga goal from the hosts in the first half was enough to keep all three points at home and frustration continued to build for the visitors as Gerrard’s wait for an away win in the Scottish Premiership continued.

There was an unseemly incident after the break as linesman Calum Spence was struck by an object which left him bleeding from the back of the head.

Spence was able to continue after receiving medical treatment but it was a disgraceful act from a fan who will hopefully be identified from the match footage.

The commentators noted that the missile had come from the away end of the Tony Macaroni Arena moments after the official denied Rangers a decision deep in the Livingston half.

As he jogged away from the ball, the official reacted to something hitting him in the back of the head and alerted the referee.

Credit to him as he carried on with his duties and even managed to laugh off the incident as Livingston players assured him that he would be OK but it’s not something that should be happening to anyone who is just trying to do a job.