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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Liam Bryce

Rangers offside controversy given short shrift as Ibrox legend salutes Gio van Bronckhorst's 'perfect' response

Barry Ferguson shrugged off controversy surrounding Antonio Colak 's disallowed goal at Livingston on Saturday. The Rangers striker had a second-half header chalked off following a tight offside call.

The Ibrox side eventually came from behind to beat Livi 2-1 as goals from Scott Arfield and James Tavernier overturned Joel Nouble's early opener for the hosts. Ferguson reckons the goal would have stood with VAR in operation but admitted he had sympathy for the officials making such a tight call.

He praised Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst for a "perfect" response to the incident in his post-match interview and insisted his own view was simply one of "get on with it". Ferguson told Go Radio: "VAR's not in yet and I feel for the linesman and the referee. It's a tough one to call. If VAR's in it's a goal but, listen, I thought Gio's interview after the game was perfect. Why speak about it (VAR)? It's not in and they've made a decision.

Rangers manager Gio van Bronckhorst (Ross Turpie)

"Is it the right decision? No, it wasn't but you just get on with it. I like that he (Van Bronckhorst) is not moaning about it."

Livingston were forced into an early sub as full-back Phillip Cancar was replaced as he teetered on the brink of being sent off for some persistent fouling. And Ferguson reckons it was quick thinking from Livi boss David Martindale to make a quick change.

He added: "In terms of the two tackles from the Livingston boy. David Martindale, straight away after that second one, he sent the boy out for a warm-up straight away.

"He knew the next one, he was of. So, Davie's obviously identified that as quickly as possible and made the change as quickly as possible."

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