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Sports Hotline

Rangers tears over Celtic penalty produce Hotline laughter as neutral observer drops loaded Ibrox claim

Good morning, this is the VAR line, if you have a complaint regarding the use of the video assistant referee system, then leave a message here and we’ll be sure to pass it on to the SFA…

Perhaps not. It was another weekend where the officials copped it for some big calls and with the Old Firm showdown ahead, it only cranked up the grumbling another notch. Celtic’s penalty in Dingwall has sparked a row that seems set to rumble right to the weekend. Paul McCormack, Coatbridge, said: “It's time to bin VAR. It's that time of the year we're one crucial decision, based on VAR, or the VAR panel, could relegate a team. It's a massively expensive, failed experiment.”

Irwin Houston, Giffnock, said: “So Willie Collum awards Celtic a penalty in practically the last second of the first half. These type of decisions are killing our game.” Rangers fans have jumped on the Ross County handball call against the Hoops. But Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, said: “Celtic finally get a pen when we need it and the controversy is reverberating over the country.

“You know what they say, it evens itself out over the season, although I can’t see Jota getting 15 penalties.” James McParland, Coatbridge, said: “Rangers have had penalties for nothing for years and opposition players also red carded for nothing.

“Collum gave them a penalty last time that left English experts baffled. We are far superior to Rangers.”

John Melrose, via email, said: “It’s a tough decision deciding who is right between Celtic and Rangers fans on the Hotline.

“We’ve had Rangers fans complaining about two tight decisions that have gone Celtic’s way, and fans of Celtic, Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen, Motherwell, St Johnstone, Ross county and Killie phoning to complain about the 37 laughable decisions going Rangers’ way. Tough call this one!”

Lee Taylor, East Kilbride, said: “I’ve been watching Motherwell from the same seat every week for 25 years and these Rangers fans have got to be having a laugh. Only one club in this country consistently gets decisions in their favour and it’s them.

“I’m no Celtic fan but you don’t get a quarter of the bad decisions against them compared to Rangers.”

John Lundstram (Rangers TV)

Helen McLean, Inverness, said: “What sweet karma to see the fans of the most entitled and pandered to club in the UK go into meltdown over a stonewall penalty to Celtic. This club have had nothing but match changing wrong decisions in their favour all season, including several against my club Ross County. Hilarious.”

Anyone would think there’s a big game coming up.

Bud Hay, Dumfries, said: “I nearly choked on my Rice Krispies this morning reading John Lundstram saying Rangers can still win the Premiership.

“They will never learn. There is more chance of me going to the moon.”

But Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, warned: “This season is not over yet. Ross County, despite their lowly position, presented Celtic with problems that a more effective side would have taken advantage of. This is not to say that alarm bells could be ringing, but a stiffening of the Parkhead team's resolve may be required, if they have ambitions to secure the Treble.”

Finally, there’s another couple of jobs in England for Ange Postecoglou to be linked with after Leicester City binned Brendan Rodgers and Chelsea got rid of Graham Potter.

But David Knox, Queens Park, said: “Surely big lucky Ange must be a cert for the Chelsea/Spurs/Leicester job now? On second thoughts, buying your way to domestic success whilst achieving absolutely zilch in Europe might put off proper clubs.”

It's another packed Monday Hotline - but what do you make of today's calls?

Get involved in the discussion in the comments section below...

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