Stuart Dougal: VAR could not intervene for Alfredo Morelos disallowed goal in Rangers 3-2 Old Firm loss v Celtic
VAR could not intervene after Alfredo Morelos saw his goal disallowed during Rangers 3-2 defeat to Celtic due to protocols, according to Stuart Dougal.
The Colombian saw an early goal ruled out for a foul, but replay evidence showed that there was almost no contact at all and the goal should have stood, but VAR failed to overrule the on-field call.
But while speaking to BBC Sport (10 April), former FIFA and SPFL referee Dougal explained that the current process means that VAR couldn’t get involved as it wasn’t deemed a “clear an obvious” error.
“Kevin’s [Clany] called it as he’s seen it,” he said.
“The problem, if you like, for certain factions is that VAR can’t intervene here.
“It’s not seen as a clear and obvious error. If there is something much more blatant, if there is no contact whatsoever, then VAR could step in and ask the referee to have a look at it again.
“Where they’re looking at that clip and it’s 50/50, 60/40, depending on which side of the fence you’re on.
“VAR, under the current protocols, can’t get involved.”
Ridiculous
What is the point of VAR if it can’t step in when a decision is so obviously wrong?
Everyone with eyes can see that there is no foul by Morelos on Johnston and the goal should have stood because there is nothing wrong with it.
But because the referee blows the whistle, the officials who are paid to watch replays and tell him that he has made a mistake can’t do that. It makes their role and purpose completely null and void.
The performance overall wasn’t good enough from Rangers, but goals change games and getting an early goal at Parkhead would have completely transformed the way the game went.
Because of that decision ultimately Rangers fell to a defeat, which was also of our own doing with stupid defensive mistakes, but it’s not good enough that even with technology to prevent it these decisions continue to decide games one way or another.
In other Rangers news, an official club partner has named 3 players they want to see start the next games.