Mark Wilson claims Rangers’ penalty claim was “brushed aside very quickly” after being given a ringside view of the VAR monitor – as fellow former Celtic hero Peter Grant hit out at selective criticism of those inside Clydesdale House.
Wilson was at Hampden Park on Sunday for the Premier Sports Cup final and has no doubt that the Ibrox side should have been aware a spot kick for Liam Scales’ tug on Vaclav Cerny on the edge of the penalty box. The former full back, who spent six years at Parkhead, doesn’t even think it needed to go to the monitor – insisting John Beaton would have awarded the penalty. But he was baffled at the speed of which the incident was dismissed, with the SFA set to hold their hands up to a blunder by VAR duo Alan Muir and Frank O’Connor – and the pair axed from duty this week.
There are at least six television cameras at each game but VAR officials are able to use more footage and angles from broadcast partners at live televised matches, with Premier Sports beaming Sunday’s game live.
The VAR and his assistant watch the game live, but also have a monitor on a three-second delay for doing a quick “silent check”. If it’s clear there has been no mistake made, the match will continue. However, if it requires further attention, the VAR will hit a big red button – more on the big green button later, too – and the referee will be told to delay the restart while the VAR looks at it further.
Wilson was sitting behind his old boss Neil Lennon and ex rival Alan Hutton who were on duty and described the chain of events. He told the Open Goal podcast: “Where we were sitting, we had the screen in front of us. So it’s delayed by about three seconds. So we look right away, but the replay seemed so quick. We’ve even got the VAR right there, Lenny (Neil Lennon) and (Alan) Hutton were right in front of us doing the co-comms. I didn’t see anything flash up. It’s almost like it was brushed aside very quickly. The factual decision is it’s a penalty. It doesn’t even need to go to the screen.”
But former Celtic midfielder and assistant manager Peter Grant, speaking on the Go Radio football show, reckons there were other incidents that could have been picked up such as a challenge by Jefte on Nicolas Kuhn late in the first half.
Responding to a caller who accused the officials of ‘cheating’, he said: “You’re only hearing this from the Rangers eyes. I don’t hear them talking about Jefte in the first half, when it’s a red card for the tackle – you’re not mentioning that. Let’s be clear, if you want to use VAR, use it for everything. Don’t pick and choose what you want to use it for.
“I thought it was a penalty (Scales on Cerny). But only because it continued into the box. Where the original tug takes place, it’s outside the box. It continues in, so that means it is a penalty – I didn’t know that rule but that is the rule.
“The linesman doesn’t flag it and he’s standing 10 yards away, looking right across. The referee goes right into his pocket and pulls out the yellow card, doesn’t give a penalty. Not one Rangers player claimed for a penalty. Most Rangers fans are saying ‘I didn’t see it at first.’ That is football, that’s what happens. I watched Clement, he was right below me, he never shouted for a penalty. He’s usually first up to be throwing his hands in the air. If you’re looking for excuses, you will find them.”