Tom English notices something new in footage of Cyriel Dessers controversy in Rangers v Celtic
BBC Scotland chief sports writer Tom English has questioned whether the first-half goal scored by Kemar Roofe for Rangers against Celtic should have been ruled out.
Roofe fired home in the 28th minute at Ibrox on Sunday [3 September] with the scoreline locked at 0-0, only for VAR to intervene and ask referee Don Robertson to check the monitor.
Robertson adjudged that Cyriel Dessers fouled Gustaf Lagerbielke in the build-up and ruled the goal out, but English is not sure if it was a clear and obvious error.
“I’ve watched it multiple times,” he said on BBC Sport’s live blog of the match [3 September, 13:02].
“What I think I see is Dessers’ right foot stands on Lagerbielke’s right foot, then Lagerbielke’s left foot kicking Dessers and Lagerbielke goes down.
“Did Dessers’ right foot definitely stand on Lagerbielke? Is it clear and obvious?”
Robbed
Michael Beale has every right to be aggrieved with this decision.
There is no doubt that Dessers made contact with Lagerbielke, but was there enough contact to make the defender go to ground?
The tangling of the legs almost seems secondary, as the referee appeared to rule out the goal due to Dessers putting his had on his opponent’s back.
And what a huge call that turned out to be, as Kyogo Furuhashi fired Celtic ahead just before the break with a clinical half-volley from range, which proved to be the only goal of a day to forget for Rangers.
Had Roofe’s goal been allowed to stand, who knows what might have happened?
Beale will just hope it does not lead to him losing his job, as that really would add insult to injury.
In other Rangers news, one starting player scored a rating of 2/10 for his performance against Celtic.