Rangers fans are fed up with the big decisions going Celtic’s way in the Old Firm derby as the use of VAR in Glasgow is put under the microscope.
Vaclav Cerny’s penalty that never was against Celtic has resulted in Rangers contacting the SFA for answers after yet more Hampden heartbreak.
The VAR failed to intervene and award a penalty when replays clearly showed Cerny had been in the Celtic penalty area when he was hauled down by Liam Scales.
It’s the latest in a long line of decisions which have not gone Rangers’ way in this fixture with questions over the inconsistent application of VAR in the Old Firm.
Here are the seven major decisions which are under the microscope as Rangers fans get increasingly frustrated with the technology bailing Celtic out in the fixture.
Celtic 3-2 Rangers (08/04/23)
Whilst this was the third time VAR had been used in the Old Firm derby, it is the first application of the technology which really comes under the microscope.
Referee Kevin Clancy disallowed an early Alfredo Morelos goal for an alleged pull on Celtic defender Alistair Johnston from a corner.
Replays show the two tussling for position in the Celtic box with nothing between them and Johnston eventually flailing as Morelos beats the defender to the ball.
After a VAR check the decision was allowed to stand, something which left Rangers ‘astonished’ after the club had written to the SFA.
With the SFA eventually going on to back the decision, it’s the start of a succession of big calls which were to go in Celtic’s favour.
Rangers 0-1 Celtic (03/09/23)
The following season Rangers hosted Celtic at Ibrox Stadium in the first Old Firm derby of the new campaign.
With the pressure on Michael Beale and several of his expensive and underperforming new signings, Rangers quite simply had to win or the writing would be on the wall for the manager.
The Gers thought they’d taken a crucial lead in the match when Kemar Roofe lashed the ball home after Cyriel Dessers had won the ball off a stuttering Gustaf Lagerbielke.
Remarkably, VAR overturned the goal for an apparent foul from Dessers on the Celtic defender despite replays showing the Rangers striker had simply gotten in front of the defender.
Celtic would go on win the game through a Kyogo Furuhashi strike.
Then Rangers manager Michael Beale would describe the decision as ‘harsh’ come full time with pundits split on whether or not it was the right call.
The result was a crucial part of Beale losing his job.
Celtic 2-1 Rangers (30/12/23)
With Rangers getting increasingly vocal about the application of VAR in the Old Firm, the refereeing team conspired to produce one of the most ridiculous refereeing moments in recent history.
With Celtic defender Alistair Johnston hitting the ball out of play with his hand as Abdallah Sima threatened the goal in the first half, the referee waved play on and gave a goal kick.
This moment left Rangers supporters feeling incensed and in a seemingly desperate attempt to cover their own back, the VAR team later scrambled to find a justification.
Later releasing a still image of Abdallah Sima apparently being offside in the build-up, something which has also been disputed, it just added to the confusion surrounding the entire decision.
If this was the reason the penalty wasn’t given, then Celtic should’ve been awarded a free kick.
To make things worse the VAR team released the image in the second half, a substantial period after it had actually happened, leading to accusations from supporters of a cover-up.
Once again a big call went in Celtic’s favour and Rangers demanded to hear the audio of the incident come full-time.
Branding the situation ‘unacceptable’, Rangers questioned the motives behind the decision by saying (Sky Sports):
”Rangers have learned no penalty was awarded as the VAR official, Willie Collum, concluded a handball offence had not occurred in the first half.
“While the club and most observers are astonished by this ‘professional’ view, we remain perplexed and concerned about the Scottish FA’s motivations for sharing an offside image with broadcasters during the second half, when this was not the original reason why the penalty was not awarded.“
Rangers 3-3 Celtic (07/04/24)
In an enthralling Old Firm clash at Ibrox, Rangers really had the chance to prove their title credentials and somewhat blew it on a big day against Celtic.
But things might’ve been very different indeed had a second half Cyriel Dessers equaliser been allowed to stand.
Rangers had fallen 2-0 behind in an unacceptable start to the match against Celtic at Ibrox, but would eventually battle back in an ultimately disappointing 3-3 draw in Govan.
VAR had already upheld the decision to award Celtic a penalty for handball to go 2-0 up, with Matt O’Riley scoring after Daizen Maeda had given the Parkhead side the lead.
Rangers were then awarded a penalty by VAR when John Beaton’s decision to yellow card Fabio Silva for simulation was overturned.
James Tavernier dispatched the spot kick and only a minute later Rangers thought they were level when Cyriel Dessers sent Ibrox into delirium.
But remarkably, the goal was eventually ruled out for an apparent foul from Tom Lawrence in the build up to the strike.
The decision was a hugely controversial and important one in the context of the game and the title race.
The likes of ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher accused the VAR team of ‘re-refereeing’ the game at full-time.
John Beaton never deemed the challenge a foul on the pitch and given it was in Rangers’ half, there is nothing ‘clear and obvious’ about the need for VAR to intervene.
Abdallah Sima eventually equalised for Rangers later in the game before Adam Idah put Celtic in front and Rabbi Matondo netted a stunning injury time equaliser.
Celtic 2-1 Rangers (11/05/24)
Rangers were left playing for pride in the Scottish Premiership in the final Old Firm derby of the season and were up against it in front of a full house of Celtic fans.
But the Gers were not helped by a disastrous headloss from midfielder John Lundstram at Celtic Park.
With Rangers having fallen behind against Celtic, Lundstram netted an own goal before flying into a challenge on Alistair Johnston, who seems to be regularly involved in these VAR disputes.
After Willie Collum flashed a yellow card to the midfielder, VAR recommended an on-pitch review with Lundstram having the tackle upgraded to a red.
Kenny Miller claimed that it was ‘never a red card’ at the time, with the ex-Rangers striker insisting replays made the forceful challenge look worse than it is.
We’re not saying this one wasn’t a red card but we’re seen similar challenges in recent matches across the Scottish Premiership go unpunished.
Celtic 1-0 Rangers (25/05/24)
Rangers then had the chance to overcome Celtic at the end of last season and secure a cup double in the Scottish Cup Final.
The Gers put in a spirited display at Hampden and were probably the better of the two sides before Adam Idah’s late goal landed Celtic the trophy.
But in a game of slight margins, Rangers had taken the lead in the match only for VAR to once again come to Celtic’s aid in dubious circumstances.
Abdallah Sima had nodded Rangers in front from a corner before VAR asked referee Nick Walsh to come to the screen and review an apparent push by Nicolas Raskin on Joe Hart.
The decision was considered very soft as Hart flapped at the ball, with alleged perpetrator Raskin barely touching the Celtic goalkeeper whilst being held around the waist by Greg Taylor.
If the VAR was to intervene for anything, Rangers fans reckon it should’ve been for a penalty to their side but once again the technology bailed Celtic out of trouble.
Celtic 3-3 Rangers (15/12/24)
This decision brings us nicely to what many Rangers fans feel must be the final straw in VAR aiding Celtic and ignoring the Ibrox side in these decisive matches.
With an energy-sapped Rangers hauling Celtic to extra time at Hampden, Vaclav Cerny began to cut into the Celtic box leaving Liam Scales flapping.
The Republic of Ireland defender clearly pulls Cerny’s shirt and John Beaton awarded a free kick outside the box before yellow carding the Parkhead centre-back.
But replays show that Vaclav Cerny was clearly inside the area, with a plethora of ex-referees since claiming Rangers should’ve been awarded a penalty at Hampden.
Whilst VAR has been somewhat desperate to find faults in goals which go against Celtic in recent matches, they seemed particularly eager to move on from this decision.
It is a monumental call in the grand scheme of Rangers’ rivalry with Celtic and somewhat bucks the trend of VAR officials forensically analysing anything which might go against our Old Firm rivals.
Why is that exactly?
