It seems like any time Rangers get a positive decision in a football match, the VAR conspiracy theories are left to run riot.
It’s often said that no-one likes Rangers, and that we don’t really care, but it’s that glaring indifference which might be coming back to haunt us now.
Celtic fans in particular, and the Parkhead club’s stooges in the media, are very quick to comment any time Rangers get a positive decision. Hell mend the referee who awards us a penalty.
We would like to say it was only our Old Firm rivals who howl about conspiracies and Rangers but in reality the narrative has been so fixed for so long that any game-spinning call in our favour is poured over religiously in even once-respectable institutions in the aftermath.
This Rangers conspiracy obsession in the age of social media and clickbait is a blight on Scottish sports media coverage.
But whilst the clacking of keyboards can be heard the length of Scotland and VAR rage-baiting conspiracy headlines abundant in the event of Rangers benefitting from a decision, the usual suspects are transparently quiet after the SFA’s latest VAR review was published.
You’ll be unsurprised to hear that’s – very likely – because it doesn’t exactly back up the Irish bull.
VAR gets 5 big calls against Rangers wrong
Since the start of the season, Scottish FA’s VAR independent review panel has claimed that the controversial technology has got 26 decisions incorrect.
After the latest review figures were released, it’s an increase by 10 from the period between February and May.
It is also claimed that the introduction of the technology has meant referees have got 97.8% of decisions across the board, a 7.5% rise.
The panel – which is neutral, made up of former players, managers & coaches, and guided by experts so they understand fully the laws of the game – are assumed to be trustworthy.
Any suggestion otherwise just makes a mockery of the entire thing.
The findings confirm that out of all the clubs in Scottish football, some are disproportionately suffering from poor officiating at the hands of VAR officials, referees and on-pitch reviews.
And, contrary to the rubbish we have to read, listen to, and are encouraged to believe, they don’t wear green and white hoops.
In this round of decisions, Rangers can feel aggrieved at two calls.
Dujon Sterling should have his red card reduced to a yellow after a VAR review in the 2-1 Ibrox win over Aberdeen.
Kilmarnock also shouldn’t have been awarded a penalty, and gifted the opening goal, in the club’s hard fought Rugby Park win at the end of February.
It brings the Rangers list to five for the season, the most in the Scottish Premiership to date.
| MATCH | INCIDENT |
| Rangers 3-1 Dundee (09/12/23) | Jose Cifuentes red card |
| Celtic 2-1 Rangers (30/12/23) | Alistair Johnston handball |
| Rangers 3-1 Kilmarnock (02/01/24) | John Souttar handball penalty |
| Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen (6/02/24) | Dujon Sterling red card |
| Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers (28/2/24) | Connor Goldson handball |
Celtic, in an incident that led Brendan Rodgers to a one-game ban for branding the referee team incompetent, got the first incorrect decision against them this season with Tomoki Iwata’s handball v Hearts.
Rangers conspiracy theories quashed by SFA release
So what does it all mean?
Well, one also has to consider the amount of decisions which have went Rangers’ way (2).
Firstly the ‘foul’ on Ross McCausland which led to a penalty against Livingston in November should never have been given, whilst a foul on Abdallah Sima in the win over Dundee noted above shouldn’t have been given.
There have also been two decisions which have benefitted Celtic – the aforementioned Alistair Johnston incident and the penalty which was subsequently missed in the defeat to Hearts.
It puts Rangers three in the red whilst Celtic are one in the green but as we know, these things even themselves out over a season.
St Mirren, who’ve had four decisions go against them, top the list due to none having gone in their favour.
It means that Rangers, whether Celtic fans want to admit it or not, are one of the worst off when it comes to VAR this season.
But these cold hard facts mean nothing in the face of the conspiracy theories.
They will also do little to disuade people of some kind of handshake orientated corruption in Scottish football.
After all, any suggestion otherwise is exactly what they want you to think!
