Alistair Johnston handball: Rangers say no offside mentioned by VAR in Old Firm penalty check controversy
Rangers claim the VAR audio surrounding their penalty appeal in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Celtic includes no mention of an offside, after meeting with the SFA on Wednesday.
In a statement to Sky Sports News, Rangers confirmed they had met with the SFA in response to their request to release the audio surrounding a potential handball against Celtic’s Alistair Johnston, which was reviewed by VAR Willie Collum at the time – but not given.
At the time, forward Abdallah Sima’s offside position was mooted as a potential reason for the decision, but Rangers say they have now listened to the conversation between on-field referee and Nick Walsh and Collum and that it was not a factor in their discussions.
Rangers said after their meeting there had been an “overwhelming consensus” that the original decision had been incorrect, and also criticised the “haste” with which it was reached.
The club met the SFA four days after it had first criticised the country’s governing body for not releasing the VAR audio – which has still not been made public. Sky Sports News has contacted the SFA for comment.
A Rangers spokesperson told Sky Sports News: “Rangers FC today met with Scottish FA officials to discuss the VAR handball call and subsequent miscommunications from Saturday’s Old Firm match.
“From the meeting, there was an overriding consensus the VAR decision of no handball was incorrect.
“Having listened to the audio, there is no mention of a potential offside at the time of the handball decision. Rangers is also deeply concerned at the haste at which the erroneous no handball call was made.
“Rangers has appealed to the Scottish FA to release the audio and explain this decision, and future contentious decisions involving all clubs, to the public, as would be common practice in England for such a decision.
“The club has made a number of specific requests that it hopes the Scottish FA will respond to in order to improve matters going forward.”
