Celtic v Rangers contentious moments reviewed by ex-SFA official
Former SFA official Steve Conroy gave his opinion on several contentious incidents in Rangers and Celtic’s Old Firm clash on 11 May, with John Lundstram’s red card a major talking point.
Rangers went from 0-0 to 2-0 down and back to 2-1 within five frantic minutes towards the end of the first half, but their hopes of a comeback weren’t helped by Lundstram’s sending off for a rash lunge on Alistair Johnston.
Conroy agreed with the decision to upgrade the card from yellow to red, also saying that a second-half penalty awarded to Celtic (which Jack Butland then saved) was correct, and had “no complaints” when Callum McGregor was booked for a challenge on Nico Raskin.
On Lundstram’s red card, The Daily Record pundit wrote: “For me it was the right decision – and well done VAR.”
The ex-SFA official then discussed Celtic’s penalty: “A soft boiled egg is still a boiled egg and it’s the same with penalties; so while Celtic’s penalty award might have been soft, it was still a penalty.
“Fair play to Willie Collum for sticking by his initial decision despite being sent to VAR.”
Rangers can’t complain at Old Firm refereeing decisions
Rangers were already chasing the game when Lundstram lunged in wildly on Johnston in first-half injury time, having gone 2-0 down in the 35th and 38th minutes – the second of which was an own-goal from the veteran midfielder.
Cyriel Dessers pulling one back with his 21st goal of the season gave Rangers big hope, but that completely unnecessary attempt at a challenge from Lundstram brought their momentum to a swift halt.
Referee Willie Collum had been hesitant to dish out the cards until that point, and although his first judgement was only a yellow card, VAR were well within their rights to call him over for a review.
Collum hardly needed a second look before turning his initial yellow card into a red one, sending Lundstram off and leaving the Gers down to 10 for the remainder of the contest.
Unlike with the red card though, the referee stuck to his guns early in the second half, penalising Mohamed Diomande for a challenge on Matt O’Riley in the box.
VAR asked Collum to take a second look yet again, but this time he wasn’t swayed, although the decision proved null and void anyway when Butland kept O’Riley’s spot-kick out.
Rangers certainly weren’t happy about the penalty being awarded in the first place, but given they were trying to overturn Celtic’s lead – in vain – for the entire second half the game being allowed to flow at least game them a fighting chance.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are lying in wait to snap up a sought-after free transfer from the Premier League.
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