SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Sheffield United vs. Coventry City: 20 hrs 28 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
CL
Celtic logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 21
Dec 30, 2023 at 12.30pm UK
Celtic Park
RL
Rangers logo

Celtic
2 - 1
Rangers

Bernardo (25'), Furuhashi (47')
Johnston (17'), Bernardo (27'), O'Riley (40'), Turnbull (80'), McGregor (85'), Nawrocki (87'), Oh (90+9')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Tavernier (88')
Clement (38'), Sterling (59'), Souttar (90+9'), Goldson (90+9')
Balogun (71')

Rangers 'to ask Scottish FA for VAR audio around penalty controversy in Old Firm defeat'

:Headline: Rangers 'to ask Scottish FA for VAR audio around penalty controversy in Old Firm defeat':
Rangers will reportedly ask the Scottish FA for a copy of the VAR audio around their claim for a penalty in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
Sports Mole
Rangers 'to ask Scottish FA for VAR audio around penalty controversy in Old Firm defeat'

Rangers will reportedly ask the Scottish FA for a copy of the VAR audio around their claim for a penalty in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.

The Gers fell behind on the 25-minute mark courtesy of a superb volley from Celtic's Paulo Bernardo, before they appealed for a penalty on the stroke of half time following an apparent handball inside the area from Alistair Johnston.

Under pressure from Rangers forward Abdallah Sima, Celtic right-back Johnston attempted to shield the ball out for a goal kick before appearing to swat the ball away from Sima's chest with his right hand.

According to Sky Sports News, VAR looked at the incident, but the officials did not consider Johnston's hand movement to the ball to be unnatural.

A goal kick was eventually given by on-field referee Nick Walsh, but it later emerged that Sima was offside in the build-up, so the decision ultimately proved irrelevant.

Nevertheless, Sky Sports claims that Rangers will request for a copy of the VAR audio of the incident from the Scottish FA.

A Rangers spokesperson said: "Rangers have asked the Scottish FA to make the VAR audio available to the club to understand why no penalty was awarded despite a clear hand ball by Celtic's Alastair Johnston.

"The club is keen to understand the process that led to that decision being made as it was not made public at the time, nor communicated to our team. Rangers remains advocates of VAR, but there must be significantly more transparency for it to be successful in Scotland."

Rangers went on to concede a second two minutes after the break when Kyogo Furuhashi fired a stunning strike into the top corner, and salt was then rubbed into the visitors' wounds when Leon Balogun was shown a straight red card for dragging down Daizen Maeda as he raced through on goal.

James Tavernier pulled one back for the Gers with a brilliant free kick two minutes from time, but they were unable to find an equaliser as Philippe Clement suffered his first defeat in his 17th game in charge of the club.

Clement vented his frustration at the controversial penalty decision after the match and also felt that Celtic's Bernardo should have been sent off for a late tackle on Connor Goldson when he was already on a booking.

Speaking to Sky Sports reporter Luke Shanley, Clement said: "We played 15 minutes with 10 players, and that was the right decision, it's a red card. We didn't do that action well.

"But I have other questions also about, why not a handball in the first half to get a penalty? It's a clear handball.

"Why not a second yellow card for some tackles and then at the end of the game a lot of yellow cards? A few strange decisions in that way."

Clement was then told by Shanley about the offside in the build-up to Johnston's alleged handball, and the Rangers boss replied: "The decision was not made about an offside, the decision of no penalty was made about the handball. That was the decision. So that was a strange decision for me."

The Belgian added: "We were unlucky with the two [Celtic] goals and if we get this penalty, it's a 2-2 with the quality of the game. It's another story in perception."

Defeat for Rangers leaves them sitting second in the Premiership table, eight points behind Brendan Rodgers's Celtic side at the summit, but Clement's men have two games in hand, with a home clash against Kilmarnock up next on January 2. body check tags ::

amp_article__532504 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2023-12-31 12:44:59:
html db last update - 2023-12-31 12:44:59 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Alistair Johnston

Click here for more stories about Rangers

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Celtic's Carter-Vickers ruled out of Old Firm clash with Rangers
Brilliant Barcelona send out La Liga title message with dominant win over Osasuna
Arsenal could face Mbappe-less Real Madrid as "indecent conduct" investigation opens
Preview: Dundee vs. Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic30243389206975
2RangersRangers30195662283462
3Hibernian30111184541444
4Aberdeen30127113846-843
5Dundee UnitedDundee Utd30118113840-241
6Hearts30116134340339
7Motherwell30115143650-1438
8St Mirren30105153749-1235
9Ross County3098133151-2035
10Kilmarnock3088143448-1432
11Dundee3087154563-1831
12St Johnstone3075183254-2226
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Cubarsi, Olmo updates: Barcelona injury, suspension news vs. Girona

NEW

1

CO
Cubarsi, Olmo updates: Barcelona injury, suspension news vs. Girona

Brilliant Barcelona send out La Liga title message with dominant win over Osasuna

2

BB
Brilliant Barcelona send out La Liga title message with dominant win over Osasuna

Martinez makes Argentina World Cup retirement promise

NEW

3

MM
Martinez makes Argentina World Cup retirement promise

Preview: Dallas vs. Kansas - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

4

PD
Preview: Dallas vs. Kansas - prediction, team news, lineups

Arsenal could face Mbappe-less Real Madrid as "indecent conduct" investigation opens

5

AC
Arsenal could face Mbappe-less Real Madrid as "indecent conduct" investigation opens

"Wherever I go" - Man United attacker drops huge hint over future

6

&I
"Wherever I go" - Man United attacker drops huge hint over future

Preview: Leeds vs. Swansea - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PL
Preview: Leeds vs. Swansea - prediction, team news, lineups

Team News: Lewandowski decision made as Flick confirms Barca XI for controversial Osasuna fixture

8

TN
Team News: Lewandowski decision made as Flick confirms Barca XI for controversial Osasuna fixture

Liverpool are the 'loose cannon' as Slot plots Man City transfer hijack

9

LA

Serie A star 'emerges' as shock 'summer target' for Man United

10

SA
1x1


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .