Rangers defender Clinton Nsiala has been told he took a massive “chance” with VAR during the victory over Hearts.
The Jambos’ fans were left fuming after referee John Beaton waved away claims for a penalty after Nsiala put James Wilson under pressure in the area with the Premiership clash poised at 1-1. Rangers immediately hit them on the break and Vaclav Cerny put Philippe Clement’s men in front in the capital seconds after the flashpoint. Steven McLean in the VAR room opted against intervening at Tynecastle – leaving the hosts to recover from the one-two punch.
But speaking to BBC Sportscene, former Hearts boss and Rangers star Steven Naismith reckons that the match officials got the call right. He said: “I claimed for every one of them myself as a player but they are rarely given, if at all. James Wilson is trying to come back as he sees the ball coming behind him and there is a coming together. I would be asking for it but I don’t expect them to be given.
Fellow pundit Stephen McGinn added: “Nsiala takes a chance with VAR, because the more you slow it down and the more you look at it the more it looks like a foul. In real play I didn’t think there was enough to be giving a penalty. What I would say is as the attacking team you are desperate for it and I think Nsiala takes a chance.”
Speaking to Record Sport, former ref Des Roache disagreed and was left amazed that McLean and the team in Clydesdale House didn’t step in. He told Hotline Live: “It’s very clear, it’s a penalty. It’s two hands in the back. It’s a foul in the penalty area. If it happened outside the penalty area, it’s a foul. Penalty kick, all day long, one hundred per cent.”
IFAB rules appear to back up the whistler, stating: “The following fouls are also punished with no judgement of carelessness, recklessness or excessive force is necessary; they may be offences that stop a promising attack or deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity: holding an opponent; playing dangerously* and making contact with an opponent, g. high foot with contact; obstructing/impeding an opponent** and making contact with them; biting or spitting at anyone on the team lists or a match official; throwing something at the ball, an opponent or a match official, or using/holding something to make contact with the ball.”