Rangers FC has raised “serious concerns” following the swift reinstatement of two VAR officials involved in their recent League Cup final loss to Celtic. Alan Muir, serving as VAR, and his assistant Frank Connor were removed from domestic matches after committing an “unacceptable” mistake, according to Scottish FA referee supervisor Willie Collum.
During the match at Hampden Park, Celtic defender Liam Scales fouled Vaclav Cerny in the first half of extra time. On-field referee John Beaton ruled the incident occurred outside the penalty area. However, video evidence seemed to suggest it happened on the line, yet Muir and Connor did not overturn Beaton’s decision. Rangers ultimately lost the match in a penalty shootout.
Collum stated that it was “not a difficult decision for the VAR team,” criticizing their failure to analyze the situation thoroughly.
In the aftermath, Rangers manager Philippe Clement expressed it was “really weird” that VAR officials did not intervene. New CEO Patrick Stewart called for an explanation regarding the officiating error, which Rangers labeled “damaging for the credibility of Scottish football.”
Despite these concerns, Muir has been appointed as VAR for the upcoming match between St Mirren and Dundee on December 29, while Connor is set to officiate as an assistant referee during Kilmarnock’s game against Aberdeen on Boxing Day and another match between Celtic and St Johnstone.
Rangers released a statement articulating their concerns about the Scottish FA’s handling of the situation. They questioned the commitment to improving officiating standards and ensuring accountability. The statement highlighted, “The decision to reinstate the officials so quickly has drawn widespread media scrutiny on the officiating failure, contradicting any stated duty of care from the Scottish FA towards their match officials.”
Rangers emphasized that while they respect the independence of officiating appointments, the treatment of high-profile officiating errors impacts public confidence and the credibility of the Association. They called on the Scottish FA to exhibit a clear commitment to transparency and accountability regarding officiating standards and to take tangible steps to address the failures in officiating.
Rangers remains dedicated to ensuring the Scottish FA is held accountable in fostering a better future for the game.
