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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Chris Sutton in thinly-veiled Rangers swipe over controversial Sima goal

Chris Sutton has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at Rangers after Abdallah Sima's opening goal against Livingston.

The Ibrox forward stole the ball from defender Jamie Brandon before curling home in the first half of the Viaplay quarter-final meeting between the clubs.

However, the goal sparked debate over whether Sima fouled Brandon in the build-up with some pundits certain the goal should have been disallowed by VAR.

Willie Collum allowed play to continue after the alleged push before Nick Walsh confirmed the decision and did not instruct a review at the VAR monitor.

And Sutton cited Rangers' appeal to the Scottish FA over the decision to disallow Kemar Roofe's goal against Celtic as he commented on Sima's strike at Ibrox.

Rangers chiefs contacted the SFA to demand answers over the decision with Roofe ruled to have fouled Gustaf Lagerbielke leading to the goal being disallowed before Celtic went on to win 1-0.

In a swipe over the decision, Sutton tweeted: "I wonder if Livingston will demand answers from the SFA for the Sima goal…"

On Viaplay, commentator Rory Hamilton called the incident: "Sima on the chase, looked like a push but play goes on, Sima finds the back of the net. 

"Jamie Brandon protests. Sima celebrates. Inside the opening ten minutes, Rangers have the opening goal but there are protests continuing to Willie Collum."

And co-commentator Stephen Craigen said: "I have to say, I think everyone expected the whistle to go. It looked like the right hand of Sima just gave Jamie Brandon a nudge to push him over.

"I think that's a free kick. He puts his hand on his back and shoves him over. I think that right hand is more than enough to push the defender over."

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