Rangers fans have short fuses this week – and Celtic fans long memories.
There might be an admission from the SFA that the Ibrox side should have had a penalty in their Premier Sports Cup final defeat to their rivals at Hampden but sympathy from the rest of Scottish football was in short supply on the Hotline. And particularly when it comes to their rivals who are basking in the glory of the first silverware of the season. Never one to miss the chance of a dig at the Ibrox side, Gordon Ashley, Ayr, said: “I am glad the SFA are admitting it should have been a penalty for Rangers on Sunday. Ever since John Hartson was denied a League Cup-winning goal against them when he was two yards onside I have been waiting on revenge – and now we have it.”
Kenny Wilson, Moffat, said: “So Rangers are the first club to have a decision go against them? News flash – it happens every week in football. Their hypocrisy is second to none.
“They criticise other clubs for demanding answers and call them bad losers but when the boot is on the other foot it’s fine to expect games to be replayed? You lost the game of your own doing. You had the chances against the poor performance from Celtic this season and still lost.”
Charles Maxwell emailed: “How long are the Rangers fans going to hang on to this penalty claim? It’s not so long ago Connor Goldson was making more saves than Jack Butland and committing rugby tackle fouls.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “I wish the Rangers Hotliners would dry their eyes and move on over the Liam Scales incident. Instead they should regret the fact that unlike Celtic, who Brendan Rodgers admitted practiced penalties prior to the final, it appears Philippe Clement didn’t with Jack Butland taking one even before sudden death. It smacked of desperation and totally embarrassed the Rangers outfield players watching on.”
Jimmy Laing, Lossiemouth, said: “I was wondering if someone could clarify that when Aberdeen were denied two penalty kicks last season in the League Cup final were the match officials taken off the fixtures list the following weekend?”
Record Sport revealed on Tuesday that VAR duo Alan Muir and Frank Connor had been axed for this week’s round of fixtures following the blunder and
Eddie Easson, Ballingry, said: “So Rangers get their own way like spoilt children with the two VAR officials from Sunday stood down. “They are making it impossible to referee. Or is it a cry of desperation to put fear into refs for January 2? They are clueless, classless and cupless.”
But Chris Lowe, Yoker, said: “So the SFA have held their hands up. Sorry but the damage is done and heads must roll. Alan Muir and Frank Connor and a few others have a plethora of incidents spanning years that all benefit one club. The question is who keeps hand picking them for these big matches? Time for foreign officials as our lot can’t be trusted anymore.”
And Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, said: “The SFA admitting their officials got the penalty decision wrong doesn’t help Rangers one bit. Neither does this alter the fact that VAR did not disallow Celtic’s third goal for a foul by Nicolas Kuhn in the run up to the goal.
“VAR did not force a retake on two of Celtic’s penalties when Kasper Schmeichel was illegally in the box for two of Celtic’s penalties, both potential bookings as the keeper knows the rules and was allowed to blatantly cheat by the fact no action was taken, he made the save after this time.
“All goals, potential red cards, wrong red cards and potential penalties should be checked by VAR. The lack of action by Alan Muir, the main VAR official, for the final speaks volumes as he’s already made alleged errors against Rangers in at least two other Old Firm games and other matches where he’s officiated for matches involving Rangers or Celtic where around 89% go against Rangers and approaching 100 per cent go for Celtic.
“How many times can this be allowed to happen by the SFA? VAR is in place to get the correct decision but when these decisions are selective depending on which team then there’s a major problem within the SFA. Mistakes happen but four in one match especially with past history beggars belief.”
William Hutchison, Aberdeen, said: “VAR is to blame but Liam Scales is the real culprit and got away with one. He is a liability and my heart sank when he came on. If he stood his ground instead of pulling on Vaclav Cerny’s jersey then we wouldn’t have all of this. I’m a Celtic fan but knew he had conceded a deserved penalty.”