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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Ben Banks

VAR blasted for Rangers onside decision as ex referee fumes over 'mythical situation' that changed Motherwell match

Steve Conroy believes Fashion Sakala was offside in Rangers' third goal at Motherwell and it should not have stood.

The Light Blues ran out 4-2 winners at Fir Park in an incident-packed match. Max Johnston was deemed marginally onside as he put in a cross for Kevin Van Veen's home opener, before James Tavernier levelled up. Sakala scored shortly after half-time before the pendulum swung again via Bevis Mugabi's leveller. It's the third goal which has proven contentious for the former referee.

Sakala was announced as onside by VAR as the lines were drawn up but Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell wants clarity whether it was correct or not. And speaking to Grosvenor Sport, he believes Cantwell's header should not have stood with Sakala offside. Rangers went on to win via a Malik Tillman goal while Callum Slattery's red card for a flailing arm on the January signing also proved a debate point after Nick Walsh's decision.

Conroy said: "It seems to me that VAR have got this one wrong, I think Sakala is in an offside position. Arms and hands don’t count when it comes to an offside decision.

"But it looks like VAR have decided that the Motherwell defender’s arm plays Sakala ONSIDE with this mythical situation where your arm becomes your body at the T-shirt line or armpit. So they are saying that the defender’s shoulder is ahead of Sakala’s foot but it doesn’t look like that to me.

"It’s a game-changing moment. It’s the second big call that’s gone wrong at Fir Park after a Jota goal for Celtic was disallowed when the cameras were not focused on the incident.”

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