Scottish FA response slammed after ‘calamitous’ Rangers controversy v Celtic
Derek Clark has slammed the Scottish FA’s reaction to their “calamitous blunder” during Rangers’ League Cup final defeat to Celtic on Sunday.
The SFA has confirmed that Philippe Clement’s side should have been awarded a penalty for a foul on Vaclav Cerny on 15 December, with SFA CEO Ian Maxwell saying that errors are “a given” [X].
However, a VAR intervention was not able to come to the correct conclusion in a 3-3 draw at Hampden Park, which saw the Hoops eventually go on to lift the Scottish League Cup on penalties.
Taking to X [18 December], Clark wrote: “An apology from the SFA isn’t going to cut it. It’s gone way beyond that. We need to hear what will be done to avoid a similar embarrassment happening again.
“They’ve allowed a calamitous blunder to overshadow what was an engrossing game and besmirch the final outcome.”
SFA blunder causes Rangers heartache v Celtic
The decision clearly has caused a huge uproar, and rightly so, as it could have implications for the rest of the Light Blues’ campaign and even Clement’s future.
The Gers may have been on their way to a first win over their Old Firm rivals in the last seven attempts, but yet again, match officials have stolen the spotlight in Scotland.
Of course, human error is not something that can really be eradicated from the game. However, with screens aplenty and a pitchside monitor, officials have no excuse for making these kinds of errors.
While it is extremely frustrating, there is little the fans can do about the result now, with Brenden Rodgers’ side going on to lift the cup and steal it away from the Gers, having won the competition last season.
Supporters have every right to voice their anger and disappointment towards the SFA but nothing is destined to change, meaning the most important thing now is rallying behind the team and manager.
Clement has been under immense pressure at Ibrox, and the League Cup final was a chance for him to prove himself to the fans at Hampden, but that has now been stripped away from him.
Sacking him now because of the Old Firm defeat would be extremely harsh but when the two sides meet again on Thursday 2 January, it is crunch time for the Belgian once again.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton was baffled by what was said about the Gers’ defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park.
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