Rangers learn most likely outcome as unhappy Jim Gillespie reaches out to SFA

Derek McInnes confirmed this week that Rangers chief Jim Gillespie has reached out to the SFA to clarify an incident that happened in last week's Celtic clash.

While focus may have shifted to Sunday's Scottish Premiership showdown at Celtic Park, the fallout from seven days ago is still lingering.

Rangers were celebrating a superb 3-0 win over Celtic at full-time, but there was a sour point late on.

Ryan Naderi was caught on the ankle by Mike Baur in a horror challenge that now leaves the Rangers forward doubtful for this latest meeting.

Remarkably, a free-kick was actually awarded in Celtic's favour and VAR did not intervene to help referee Nick Walsh.

Gers chief executive Gillespie has now asked SFA head of refereeing communications Willie Collum for the reasoning behind that, with Keith Hackett sharing exclusively to Ibrox News what the most likely outcome will be.

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Had Naderi not been deemed a major doubt to face Celtic, this incident would have been firmly in the past.

But Rangers are right to seek an explanation. It was a shocking call from not just the referee but also his team.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, McInnes told reporters: "Jim Gillespie spoke to Willie Collum in the SFA about it.

"I'm really not happy with the challenge, but I'm not going to get caught up in referee chat.

"I'm surprised that the referee wasn't asked to look at that. I find it strange that he wasn't. Ryan's ankle's a mess. It was a mess. It was a poor challenge."

It is not known what the outcome of Gillespie's chat with Collum was, but Hackett thinks he probably knows.

Rangers set for another SFA apology

Rangers are no strangers to being on the end of some terrible refereeing calls.

And Hackett, the former head of PGMOL south of the border, believes this challenge fits into that category, with an apology likely.

"The referee got this wrong and I do now expect an apology from Collum to Rangers," Hackett said.

"VAR did not intervene in the incident. The challenge was reckless and the Celtic player should have received a yellow card at the least."

Collum will be hoping there are not flashpoints in Sunday's 'rematch', of sorts, but do not hold your breath.