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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Josh McCafferty

Rangers' penalty appeal vs Celtic given definitive Ref Watch verdict

Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on Rangers' penalty appeal against Celtic on Sunday. 

Ianis Hagi went down in the box with the scoreline poised at 1-1.

Referee Nick Walsh initially dismissed the incident, and after VAR looked over it, no spot-kick was given. 


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Gallagher agreed with the eventual outcome on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch segment: "I think it's just a reaction of two players reaching for the ball," he said. 

"[It's] not a penalty for me."

Sue Smith took a similar standpoint. She said: "Again, when you see that, you've got an argument for both. If you're a Rangers fan, you're certainly saying its impeded him. 

"If you're a Celtic fan, you say that they were just going for the ball. 

"I think there's an argument for both, and hence they probably don't give it. [There's] not enough one way."

The game eventually finished one apiece despite Daizen Maeda's late opportunity. 

The Celtic attacker raced through on Liam Kelly, but the 29-year-old prevailed, as James Tavernier eventually cleared the ball. 

Barry Ferguson refused to speak about the penalty appeal in too much detail over fears he would get himself in bother: "If that's in the middle of the pitch, it's a foul," he said. 

"But it was in the box and it wasn't given as a foul. I just need to move on quickly because I don't want to start saying things that's going to get me in trouble."

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