Rangers have expressed “serious concerns” after two VAR officials involved in their League Cup final defeat to Celtic were reinstated to top-flight games.
Alan Muir – who was VAR for the game at Hampden Park – and his assistant Frank Connor were not on domestic duty last weekend after making an “inappropriate” error, according to Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum.
Celtic defender Liam Scales brought down Vaclav Cerny in the first half of extra time and the referee on the field, Iain Beaton, believed that the incident happened outside the box.
While the footage appeared to show the foul on the box line, Muir and Connor did not challenge the decision on the pitch – with the score level at 3-3 in overtime, before Rangers went on to lose the shootout.
Collum said it was “not a difficult decision for the VAR team” and that they were “not forensic enough in the analysis”.
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Sky Sports News' Gordon Duncan has all the details after SFA boss Willie Collum admitted Rangers should have been awarded a penalty against Celtic in their League Cup final defeat.
After that, Gers boss Philippe Clement said it was “very strange” that Muir and Connor did not intervene, while The CEO of the new club, Pádraig Stewart, asked for an explanation of what happened. Rangers went on to report the incident as “damaging the credibility of Scottish football in general”.
Now, after Muir's appointment as VAR for St Mirren vs Dundee on December 29, as well as Connor's return to the touchline as an assistant referee at Rugby Park for Kilmarnock vs Aberdeen on Boxing Day and at Park Celtic when Celtic host St Johnstone on December 29 – Rangers have struck out at the SFA again.
Careers affect 'belief and confidence'
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New Rangers boss Patrick Stewart – seen here arriving at Ibrox for his first day in office – asked the SFA to explain what happened
A statement said: “Rangers FC have contacted the Scottish FA to express serious concerns and ask a number of questions regarding the speedy reinstatement of the two VAR officials involved in the failure of direction at the Grand Final The recent Scottish Premier Sports Cup. named to the SPFL Premiership match in which the club benefited from the error.
“The actions of the Scottish FA raise questions about their commitment to improving the standards of officials and fostering accountability. While Rangers FC fully respect the independence of managerial positions and the need for referees to act without interference, the way the Scottish FA handles such obvious failings has a direct impact. public belief and confidence.
“The decision to reinstate the officials so quickly, and particularly for a game in which the club benefited from that error, has drawn widespread media scrutiny of the failure of the management and the officials concerned. they announced a duty of care from the Scottish FA in relation to their match officials.
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Rangers manager Philippe Clement is speaking out after Scottish FA boss Willie Collum admitted they should have been awarded a penalty in their League Cup final defeat to Celtic.
“Mistakes happen in football, and how they are dealt with matters a lot. We urge the Scottish FA to show its desire to improve the quality and consistency of its management and to do so in a transparent way. We are not trying to challenge the authority of the Scottish FA or the integrity or independence of the match officials, but to promote better standards and accountability. It is not about good governance. which is this.
“Rangers FC expect substantial action to be taken and remain committed to holding the Scottish FA accountable for the good of the game.”
Sky Sports News have contacted the Scottish FA.
