Rangers have criticized the Scottish Football Association for delaying the release of the VAR audio from Saturday’s Old Firm loss to Celtic, noting that the governing body is scheduled to convene on Wednesday to address the request.
The Ibrox club expressed dissatisfaction with the circumstances surrounding a penalty claim during the first half of their 2-1 defeat to Celtic. They specifically sought to access the discussions between VAR operator Willie Collum and match official Nick Walsh that led to the decision not to penalize Celtic defender Alistair Johnston for a handball while under pressure from Rangers forward Abdallah Sima. Sky Sports highlighted an offside against Sima that supposedly superseded any foul play from Johnston, but play resumed with what appeared to be a goal kick from Celtic’s Joe Hart rather than a free kick for offside.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement disclosed his lack of understanding regarding the officials’ actions, prompting the club to release another statement less than 24 hours after their initial call for the VAR audio’s release. They criticized the “unacceptable” timeline for the meeting and expressed growing concerns about the “lack of transparency.”
A spokesperson for Rangers stated, “Despite repeated requests, the Scottish FA has failed to disclose the VAR audio to enable the club to comprehend the process around the non-award of a penalty. Rangers officials are prepared to meet with the Scottish FA at any time to hear and discuss the audio, but the Scottish FA has declined to share the VAR audio or convene until at least Wednesday, five days after the match and after the next round of Scottish Premiership fixtures. This is clearly unacceptable and intensifies Rangers’ concerns over the lack of transparency, which is urgently needed.”
The spokesperson further emphasized that although no penalty was awarded due to the VAR official’s conclusion that a handball had not occurred, the club and most observers remain astonished by this assessment. They also expressed bewilderment and concern about the motivations behind sharing an offside image during the second half, as it was not the original reason for the non-award of the penalty.
Drawing a comparison with England’s Premier League and other major European leagues, Rangers pointed out the principle of open communication and full transparency regarding contentious VAR decisions in a timely manner. They urged the Scottish FA to adopt a similar approach, especially during a weekend when not only Rangers, but other member clubs of the Scottish FA, have significant questions about potentially game-changing incidents.
