“Ulderink and Fourth Official Clash in Rangers’ Pre-Season Battle with Ajax”
New Rangers coach Andries Ulderink clashed heatedly with the fourth official during a pre-season match against Ajax.
Philippe Clement is rigorously training his team in the Netherlands with the new Scottish Premiership season approaching fast. Facing a top-tier team like Ajax is a significant challenge at this stage. Even though the official games haven’t started yet, tensions flared during this match, particularly after Ajax’s first goal left Clement’s assistant Ulderink upset.
A quick free-kick by Jordan Henderson set up Kenneth Taylor, with the Rangers defense caught off guard. Taylor was fouled in the box by Jack Butland, but play continued, and Kian Fitz-Jim scored in the bottom corner, leading to protests from the Rangers’ coaching staff.
Ulderink was frustrated that Ajax was allowed to take the quick free-kick, and he confronted the fourth official. On Rangers TV, Lee McCulloch criticized the team’s lapse, noting: “It’s a quick free-kick that caught the boys off guard. I immediately looked at Connor Goldson, who had turned his back. Jack came out, missed it along with the striker – but it’s disappointing. The concentration levels dropped, and we got caught. Never turn your back on the ball.”