Rangers legend Mark Hateley has told referee Nick Walsh that "conspiracy theorists" will be all over any major VAR calls in the Viaplay Cup final showdown with Celtic.
The 33-year-old will be the man in the middle at Hampden as he makes a quickfire return to the national stadium having overseen Rangers' semi-final victory over extra-time, while John Beaton will be at Clydesdale House on VAR duty. It's set to be a blockbuster clash as the Glasgow heavyweights battle it out for the first silverware of the season, with Michael Beale looking to claim his his maiden trophy as Ibrox boss while Ange Postecoglou aims to keep the cup in the Celtic Park trophy cabinet.
In the Scottish Premiership, the introduction of VAR has been a major talking point amid several controversial calls, and Hateley reckons a microscope will be on any decisions made by Walsh and his officiating team. Speaking on the Get Involved Referee podcast, former whistler Steve Conroy claimed that a big call was "written in the stars" ahead of the blockbuster final. Hateley added: "Conspiracy theorists will be there, and they will be all over it.
"It's one of the most important Old Firm games in a long, long time. Rangers haven't, apart from last year, been to a cup final and won a cup final. Getting that first one (trophy) in the bag takes away an opportunity for your opposition by taking a Treble away.
"The mindset that comes from a cup final, an Old Firm one as well, and the negativity it gives to the losing team and the positivity you get as the winning team for the remaining months of the season is vital. It's massive. There is a big onus on the referee."
Conroy rounded off with a nightmare scenario: 'It's always close in, but it's going to be close in plus plus. We are joking about it but a last minute handball, that is the nightmare scenario. It will be poured over, we are talking about seven minutes up to now, it will be 10."
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