Tom English hits out at ‘inexplicable’ controversy in Rangers v Celtic
Tom English believes Rangers should have been awarded a penalty in their Scottish League Cup final defeat against Celtic on Sunday.
The Gers’ defence of the League Cup came to an unsuccessful end following a 5-4 loss in penalties after the game ended 3-3 after extra time at Hampden on 15 December, but the BBC journalist feels Philippe Clement’s side were hard done by.
English, who reckons the Old Firm rivals’ so-called ultras groups were an embarrassment at the weekend, insisted that denying Vaclav Cerny a penalty after being tugged at by Liam Scales in the box in extra time was “inexplicable”.
“Butchering a 4 on 1 to go 2-0 ahead will be painful enough to Rangers fans, but this episode at 3-3 will fry their brains for a long time”, English wrote on X (16 December).
“It’s a penalty. No explanation yet why it wasn’t given in real time (understandable) or why VAR didn’t intervene (inexplicable).”
Tom English hits out at ‘inexplicable’ controversy in Rangers v Celtic
As English said, the Light Blues missed a great opportunity to double their lead after Nedim Bajrami put them in front towards the end of the first half.
However, they did well to pull level after Nicolas Kuhn appeared to score the winner for Celtic in the 87th minute.
With Mohamed Diomande and Cerny unable to continue, Clement’s side were evidently running out of steam in extra time.
One can only wonder what would have happened had the referee awarded the Ibrox outfit a penalty for the alleged foul on Cerny, who went off for Kieran Dowell in the second half of extra time.
James Tavernier would have been backed to find the back of the net and possibly give the Gers the win if such an instance occurred.
However, Rangers now find themselves having to put Sunday’s disappointment behind them and prepare for a Premiership clash with Dundee FC at home on Saturday (21 December).
In other Rangers news, a new Patrick Stewart has emerged after the League Cup final defeat.
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