Rangers vs Falkirk: Scottish FA need to pay more to avoid Tochi Chukwuani goal controversy again
Rangers‘ contentious goal by Tochi Chukwuani in their 6-3 win against Falkirk highlights how the Scottish FA needs to spend more on video technology.
That is according to former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Ibrox News that while the decision to award Chukwuani’s goal was correct, insufficient cameras at Falkirk Stadium didn’t help.
After Falkirk went 2-0 up through Ben Broggio and Finn Yeats inside the opening half hour, the Rangers midfielder lashed in from close range after appeals that the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
That goal proved pivotal, as Youssef Chermiti and Nicolas Raskin scored twice in five minutes after the break and then substitute Bojan Miovski scored to make it 4-2.
Calvin Miller’s penalty was quickly cancelled out by Chermiti’s second, before Miovski also got a brace in a remarkable 6-3 triumph.
Rangers’ victory over Falkirk keeps them within one point of league leaders Hearts heading into the second phase of the Scottish Premiership, regardless of the drama.
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Correct decision, but more funding needed from SFA
For Sunday’s clash, Don Robertson was on refereeing duties, with Daniel McFarlane and Calum Spence acting as his assistants. Moreover, Andrew Dallas was assisted by Sean Carr on VAR duty.
The game’s big talking point centred around whether or not Chukwuani’s goal should have stood, with VAR not having a camera angle that definitively proved whether the earlier cross was in or out of play.
| Rangers’ quickfire turnaround after VAR call | |
| Tochi Chukwuani goal (2-1) | 42nd minute |
| Youssef Chermiti goal (2-2) | 47th minute |
| Nicolas Raskin goal (2-3) | 52nd minute |
| Bojan Miovski goal (2-4) | 58th minute |
Hackett said the right decision was made, before adding: “The assistant referee was ideally positioned to make a judgment on ball in or out of play.
“The analyst was spot on when he said that Falkirk’s players should have continued to defend, rather than stopping.
“There wasn’t a camera in the right position to assist VAR to make an accurate decision, so it was right that the on-field decision was to award the goal.
“Once again, though, we have an incident where the Scottish football authorities could pay that extra amount of funding to have goal line technology from corner flag to corner flag.”
Rangers avoid unwanted history at Falkirk
Heading into this game, Falkirk were the only Scottish Premiership side Rangers had failed to beat this season after two draws with The Bairns.
Falkirk were on course to make it four games in a row without defeat against Rangers for the first time since 1911, as the hosts put in a superb opening 30 minutes.
But Chukwuani’s goal proved to be the turning point as Rangers came to life on Sunday afternoon in the sunshine.
Danny Rohl‘s team will now prepare for the post-split fixtures as Rangers try to win their first league title since 2021.
Next up, they host Motherwell on 26 April. After this game, they may need a bit of a breather.
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