Rangers FC has been invited by the Scottish Football Association to listen to the VAR audio from the match against Celtic, but this has not satisfied the Scottish club. The club states they are 'very concerned'.
The recent match between Celtic and Rangers, two of Scotland's most prominent football clubs, has sparked significant controversy and debate, particularly surrounding a contentious penalty incident.
During the game, held at Celtic Park, an incident involving Celtic defender Alistair Johnston led to claims of a handball. However, following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, no penalty was awarded against Johnston. This decision occurred at a critical juncture in the match, as Celtic was holding a 1-0 lead. Shortly after this incident, Celtic extended their lead to 2-0, and the game concluded with a 2-1 victory for Celtic.
The decision not to award a penalty was met with frustration and confusion by Rangers, particularly regarding the communication from the match officials and the Scottish Football Association (SFA). Rangers' management and coaching staff, including coach Philippe Clement, were left in the dark about the rationale behind the VAR decision. Clement speculated that the decision might have been influenced by an offside position, as he was convinced that the handball was evident.
In response to these concerns, the SFA invited Rangers to listen to the VAR audio recordings related to the penalty incident. This invitation was part of an effort to clarify the situation and provide transparency. Upon reviewing the audio, Rangers released a statement expressing their dissatisfaction and concerns. The club highlighted that the audio did not indicate any discussion of a possible offside during the incident. Rangers were particularly troubled by what they perceived as a rushed decision to dismiss the handball claim. It was also revealed that during a meeting with the relevant parties, there was a unanimous agreement that the VAR decision to not award a handball was incorrect.
In light of these developments, Rangers have made a formal request to the SFA to release the VAR audio publicly. They believe that doing so would help clarify the decision-making process to the fans and the wider public. Rangers' statement also mentioned that they had made several specific requests to the SFA, though the details of these requests were not disclosed. One point of speculation is whether Rangers sought a replay of the match against Celtic, a game that has significant implications for the league standings. Celtic's victory in this match has put them eight points clear at the top of the league, although Rangers have played two fewer games.
This situation underscores the ongoing debates and challenges associated with the implementation of VAR in football, especially in high-stakes matches. The outcome of this dispute and the SFA's response could have broader implications for the perception of VAR's role in football and its impact on the game's integrity.
