Tom English reacts to Rangers v Celtic controversy live on BBC Sportsound
Tom English has insisted Rangers should have had a penalty after Alistair Johnston handled the ball in the box in the first half of the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park.
The BBC journalist claimed that, while the infringement may have been accidental, Johnston knocked the ball out of play with his hand while trying to jostle with Abdallah Sima.
After it was checked by VAR, the decision was still not given, leading to questions until it was shared that Sima was offside in the build-up.
Speaking live on BBC Sportsound [30 December, 13:26], English explained: “I think it should have been a penalty. Alistair Johnston, he kind of reaches out his right arm, I think kind of in a jostling match with Sima and his right-hand catches the ball and it puts it out the dead-ball line.
“He knocks it out with his hand in the penalty area, he doesn’t mean to do it, he means to grapple a little bit with Sima, 50/50 no issue but his hand makes contact and it puts the ball out of play, for me, it’s a penalty.”
Questions will surely be asked
For all the taunts and digs aimed Rangers’ way about the number of penalties they receive in the league, the one time they absolutely should have been handed one at Celtic Park and the officials decide to completely ignore the fact Johnston knocked the ball out of play with his hand.
Another high-profile VAR error will yet again bring the technology into the discussion as to whether it is fit for purpose, with this decision, in particular, likely to set tongues wagging about the standard of officiating in Scotland.
It’s an easy excuse, to claim it was offside anyway and it’ll be ignored, but the decision looked fairly clear-cut and was not given, with replays showing the ball definitely comes off of the hand.
You can’t go blaming refereeing decisions for defeats, Rangers simply weren’t good enough, but going into the half-time break at 1-1 would have completely changed the complexion of the game and given Rangers a fighting chance at a huge victory.
In other Rangers news, one star may be ruled out for up to five games after a new announcement.