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

Scottish FA state Rangers requests after Celtic match 'immediately rejected'

The Scottish FA has confirmed refereeing requests from Rangers were "immediately rejected".

Ibrox chiefs James Bisgrove and Creag Robertson had met with head of referee operations Crawford Allan to discuss the use of VAR in the match between Celtic and Rangers.

The handball incident - where Alistair Johnston appeared to knock the ball out with his hand at Celtic Park - had sparked calls for an investigation into the decision from Rangers chiefs.

Referee Nick Walsh pointed for a goal kick during the match with VAR Willie Collum not calling for a review at the pitchside monitor.

The SFA stated on Thursday that the decision was on a "subjective handball" and Collum did not deem the incident a clear and obvious error.

The match restarted with a goal kick before still images of an offside in the build-up to the incident were shared with broadcasters.

The Scottish FA suggests there was "an overall consensus that the incident could not have led to a penalty kick being awarded in any event."

A Rangers statement on the incident revealed a "number of specific requests" were made to the Scottish FA. But Hampden chiefs have stated they were "immediately rejected".

It's reported calls for Willie Collum not to be involved in the refereeing of Rangers matches in the future was among the requests.

However, the SFA stated in no uncertain terms that the request was knocked back.

Included in the statement, the conclusion reads: "Finally, we note posts from a recent official media partner of the club’s detailing requests from the private meeting that were immediately rejected.

"We would ask that club representatives show greater responsibility in such matters, especially in the context of recent incidents in European football that have compromised the safety of match officials and led to widespread condemnation."

The Rangers statement had read: “Rangers FC today met with Scottish FA officials to discuss the VAR handball call and subsequent miscommunications from Saturday’s Old Firm match.

“From the meeting, there was an overriding consensus the VAR decision of no handball was incorrect.

“Having listened to the audio, there is no mention of a potential offside at the time of the handball decision. Rangers is also deeply concerned at the haste at which the erroneous no-handball call was made.

“Rangers has appealed to the Scottish FA to release the audio and explain this decision, and future contentious decisions involving all clubs, to the public, as would be common practice in England for such a decision.

“The club has made a number of specific requests that it hopes the Scottish FA will respond to in order to improve matters going forward.”

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