Sky Sports pundit shocked by ‘staggering’ Rangers vs Celtic VAR appointment
Steven McLean’s appointment as the video assistant referee for the Rangers vs Celtic clash is “staggering”, says Kris Boyd.
The Sky Sports pundit wrote in his Scottish Sun column on 10 May, the day before the crucial league encounter at Parkhead, that he could not understand why neither Greg Aitken or Andrew Dallas had been given the assignment as the two full-time VAR officials in Scotland.
Involvement from VAR has been controversial in both of the previous two derbies this season, with Willie Collum, referee this weekend, upsetting the Light Blues with his quick dismissal of an Alistair Johnston handball at Parkhead on 30 December and Celtic outraged that John Beaton overturned his booking of Fabio Silva to award a penalty at Ibrox on 3 April.
Boyd wrote: “All eyes will be on referee Willie Collum, too. Now there’s a man who will be under enormous pressure when the game kicks off. But one thing I can’t understand is why the SFA’s two full-time VAR officials, Greg Aitken and Andrew Dallas, won’t be there to assist him.
“Neither of them have been in the booth for any of the Old Firm games this season. Work that one out if you can! Instead it’s Steven McLean on VAR duty, which I find staggering when Dallas and Aitken are supposed to be the two top men.
“Only in Scotland would that happen. Only in Scotland would the SFA bend over backwards to spread the fixture around different officials, rather than appointing the best individual.
“Crawford Allan, Head of Referee Operations, would need to explain that one to me. But somebody would need to find him first. I know he’s supposed to be leaving his post soon. But has he gone already?”
Kris Boyd baffled by Rangers v Celtic decision
Whether warranted or not it is virtually nailed on that there will be some sort of officiating controversy in a high-stakes Old Firm game whoever is in charge or in the VAR room.
That has proven to be the case so far this season so it does seem odd that the two full time VARs haven’t been appointed to any of the clashes between to two sides of Glasgow.
However, the officiating appointments for the meetings between Rangers and Celtic have almost appeared designed to invite controversy at times this season.
Beaton was given the 3-3 draw at Ibrox last month after his own stint as VAR in Celtic’s defeat by Hearts had just seen Brendan Rodgers given a ban for his criticism of the official, and Collum has got this one after drawing heat in the previous derby.
Beaton had anything but a quiet day at the office as a dramatic encounter saw him award penalties to both sides after consulting the pitch-side monitor, one after having initially booked Silva for diving, and disallow a Cyriel Dessers goal for a foul he’d missed in the build-up.
So the chances of Collum getting through 90 minutes at Parkhead without being noticed seem slim, and based on how things have gone so far this term it seems equally unlikely that McLean won’t be called into action, even if it would be a relief if Aikten and Dallas’ absence doesn’t prove crucial.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are lying in wait to sign a free agent who has just refused to sign a new deal at his club.
For more Rangers news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.