Predictably, there’s the usual outcry from Rangers supporters that they were hard done by in a derby defeat against Celtic.
The Bhoys emerged victorious in the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday by a 1-0 margin after Adam Idah slammed the ball home from Jack Butland’s parried shot in the 90th minute.
Chances had been few and far between in the match up to that point with neither side really showing the quality in the final third to put the opposition under serious pressure. But it was Celtic who showed their winning mentality again in the derby this season, picking up their fourth victory against Rangers to secure a league and cup double.
Despite the clear-cut victory, there’s been much debate and gnashing of teeth about a Rangers goal that was disallowed when Nicolas Raskin pushed Joe Hart as Abdallah Sima bundled the ball over the line from a corner. The goal was initially given but was correctly ruled out following a VAR review.
Deflecting Ibrox boss Philippe Clement complained about it. But former refs are now speaking out on the subject and blowing apart the moaning from across the city.
Bobby Madden analyses Rangers ‘goal’ vs Celtic
Former SFA referee Bobby Madden reckons that Nick Walsh got the call right upon VAR review, writing on Instagram: “This goal is correctly disallowed following an on-field review. With so much going on at corners these offences are almost impossible to detect live by match officials, and this is exactly why VAR was introduced.
“There is a lot of discussion around a stronger push not being awarded earlier in the game for an incident just outside the penalty area. It’s not been detected on the field of play, had it been inside the penalty area VAR would certainly have got involved. That incident doesn’t mean you then can’t punish this quite obvious push, two wrongs don’t make a right.
“You simply can’t be behind the goalkeeper and push them as they jump to play the ball. You can debate all day whether you think the goalkeeper would have played the ball, he has only missed it by a matter of centimetres. What you can’t debate is that the push has an impact on the goalkeeper, and that can’t be ignored by the VAR when they have such a clear image.”
In response, Rangers fans apparently started contacting Madden to claim that the VAR review should have actually flagged a penalty on Raskin because he was being ‘held’.
However, the former referee responded to that claim too, sharing that six elite European referees were all in agreement that the goal should have been disallowed.
Madden said in reply to his original post: “A lot of questions about Raskin being held before the push on Hart. Come on. There is “holding” of that nature at almost every set piece. I’m sure if you studied that incident there would be multiple offences. You can only punish offences that clearly impact an opponent who is challenging for the ball.
“I don’t think the first contact is a foul but will also say the ball wasn’t in play so couldn’t be punished. After the push, there is further which is irrelevant and not enough for a foul anyway.
“I’ve shown that video to six elite European referees and they all say foul on the goalkeeper and the goal should be disallowed.”
So there you go. It seems that Rangers fans will be hanging on to baseless complaints all summer about how they were swindled out of another trophy.
But the fact is that Celtic took their big moment when it mattered and are deservedly double-winners. That’s a tougher reality for them than whatever they want to concoct but it remains the truth.