As the dust settles on Rangers’ 1-0 win over Celtic, some Gers fans believe the Ibrox club were denied a clear penalty in the first half of the match.
Referee Bobby Madden has come under substantial pressure from the green side of Glasgow for sending off Nir Bitton and apparently holding Alfredo Morelos back from being sent off.
Some Rangeers fans believe the club should’ve had a penalty for this clash between Kemar Roofe and Celtic star Leigh Griffiths. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
But did the whistler shy away from awarding the Gers a stonewall penalty in the first half as Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths shoved Rangers forward Kemar Roofe?
Midway through the first half Griffiths appears to back into Roofe as he waits for the ball to drop in the Celtic box with Roofe tumbling as a result.
Roofe, eyes on the ball, McGregor, eyes on Roofe, this could easily have been a penalty @TheQuietKid18 @Barisic_Baldy @Chr1sMcLaughlin @joe_black1509 @colinorr92 pic.twitter.com/plsnwYLTiF
— Scott (@ScottGB72) January 3, 2021
The incident takes on greater significance when you consider that Roofe would eventually be subbed off at half-time due to an injury.
The on-form Ibrox striker was replaced by attacking midfielder Ianis Hagi – who did have a positive impact on the game – in a move which was at first considered tactical.
After the match Steven Gerrard would reveal that the midfield had a “niggle” in his quad [RangersTV] so wasn’t risked in the second period.
Despite many of our rivals bemoaning Madden’s performance, there are plenty of Gers fans who believe that the refereed gaffed by not awarding this penalty:
Agreed, foul on Roofe was also a penalty, soft but seen them given
— 𝐃𝐀𝐙𝐙𝐀 (@DRC1872) January 2, 2021
nobody is talking about griffiths tackle sorry barge on roofe in 1st half in celtic penalty box – that should have been a booking maybe even a pen as griff never even looked at ball only roofe – and roofe went off injured after…thoughts lads?
— Get on your Bike (@GeorgeCruiksha1) January 3, 2021
Look, if the refs in Scotland are biased against Celtic then they r the absolute worst cheats in the world. 12 trophies in a row has NEVER been done before in the UK. If refs were corrupt, they would influence games far more. Its not as if its difficult to give a penalty (Roofe)
— Jas Boyd (@Jas72Boyd) January 3, 2021
What about the Penalty that wasn’t given for the barge on Roofe, the red cards that should have been shown to Duffy & Soros. But hey never defeated always cheated -19
— @Burnsonian (@burnsonian) January 3, 2021
Not only did he say it wasn't a red he said ref was poor for whole game. Duffy not seeing red, no penalty for barge on Roofe! Yup, I agree. He had a very poor game!
— Adamski007 (@smitzer007) January 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/IconicSuper/status/1345705715793612801
Missed the penalty call when Griffiths barged over Roofe in the box too, don’t forget that one.
— John Cuthbert (@onlyjcuthbert) January 3, 2021
They didn’t mention the stonewall penalty for the foul on Roofe, seems to have been forgotten some how.
— Harry R Soles (@baw_baggery) January 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/andycaulfield3/status/1345694092135702528
Really really bad.
Great view of Griffiths challenge on Roofe in first half too, definitely looks a penalty to me.
— GF7Volunt55rs (@GF7Volunteers) January 3, 2021
Bobby Madden himself has indirectly responded to Celtic fans on Instagram as the whistler celebrates getting “in the thick of the action”.