SFA duo punished after Rangers-Celtic controversy

SFA officials Alan Muir and Frank O’Connor have been removed from officiating duties after their controversial decision not to award a penalty to Rangers during Sunday’s clash against Celtic, as reported by the Daily Record on 17 December.

The duo, responsible for VAR during the match, have not been assigned to any Scottish Premiership fixtures this weekend, while other members of the officiating team remain in action.

The Controversial Incident

During extra time, Rangers’ Vaclav Cerny was fouled on the penalty line by Liam Scales. On-field referee John Beaton awarded a free kick, which appeared reasonable based on the initial view of the incident. However, TV replays revealed the foul occurred on the line, which should have resulted in a penalty.

Despite VAR having the opportunity to review the decision, no intervention was made, and the penalty was not awarded. This failure has led to the SFA’s decision to drop Muir and O’Connor from upcoming matches.

A Difficult Outcome for Rangers

The Old Firm clash at Hampden Park ended in frustration for Rangers, who suffered another loss to Celtic despite showing signs of improvement under Philippe Clement. Nedim Bajrami gave Rangers an early lead, but the game went to penalties, where Celtic ultimately prevailed.

The decision not to award a penalty during extra time could have significantly impacted the match’s outcome. Cerny had intercepted the ball from Scales, who then brought the Czech international down on the line of the penalty area.

SFA Response

Given the high-profile nature of the incident and the clear error on review, it is unsurprising that the SFA has decided to remove the VAR officials from this weekend’s fixtures. The situation highlights ongoing scrutiny surrounding VAR decisions in Scottish football.