Paul Lambert shares verdict on controversial Rangers incident v Celtic
Paul Lambert understands why Rangers are furious after they had a goal ruled out in the Old Firm defeat to Celtic on Sunday (3 September).
Speaking to PLZ Soccer on 5 September, the former Hoops captain said he thinks Kemar Roofe’s goal “would have stood” in his day after Cyriel Dessers was adjudged to have fouled Gustaf Lagerbielke in the build-up.
He believes the Gers had a “good case” for the goal to be awarded and understands why they are angry as he would have felt the same if the roles had been reversed.
“They had a good case for a goal,” said Lambert. “In my day, I think that goal would have stood because I don’t know if it would have been a foul in my day.
“But the modern-day with VAR, the referee calls it the way he calls it. I understand Rangers people being angry that it never stood because I would have been the same on the other side of it if it happened to us.”
Speaks volumes
It speaks volumes that Lambert has sympathised with Rangers about the disallowed goal given his history and affiliation with Celtic.
The pundit is right that a foul is unlikely to have been awarded when he played 20 years ago, but it’s now hard to judge due to the officials giving fouls for very little contact.
In this instance, there’s an argument that the Celtic defender actually waits for and initiates the contact with the Light Blues forward, who then went on to set up his teammate for what they thought was the opener.
There is no doubt that the game could’ve gone a very different way if the goal had been awarded as it would’ve increased the noise levels inside Ibrox and put the visitors firmly on the back foot.
But it didn’t pan out that way and, as a result, Michael Beale is facing increased pressure heading into the international break, where he will be looking to use the time to work with his players on the training ground.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has made an admission about an incident in the Old Firm game.