The writing is on the wall for the Premiership title but Rangers have penned a letter to the SFA complaining about decisions in Saturday’s Old Firm defeat.
Ibrox fans are raging at Alfredo Morelos having a goal ruled out and a penalty claim ignored as Celtic went 12 points clear with just seven games to go. David Knox, Queens Park, said: “The former Celtic chairman Ian Bankier played a blinder when he questioned referees at an AGM a few years ago as this coupled with their fans' harassment/abuse of officials has resulted in them becoming untouchable. Game’s a bogey up here and all clubs in Scotland have allowed it to happen.”
Chris Lowe, Yoker , said: “No VAR lines drawn at Celtic's second goal (Jota offside in initial move) but we got multiple lines at Motherwell the other week and 14 days of debate if Sakala was offside. No countless replays of Morelos getting his jersey near ripped off him at a corner. If Celtic lost that game 3-2 with those decisions going against them the referee's career would be over. You know it’s bad when even Andy Walker says it’s a goal.” Willie Mercer, Dumfries , said: “Once again the inept and substandard level of refereeing in Scotland was on view for all to see during the Old Firm match.” Jake Curley, Edinburgh, said: “Did Celtic receive special permission not to Use VAR during Saturday’s match against Rangers?”
Alex Jappy emailed: “It is amazing what VAR and referee's see and don't see. If it was deemed that the goal Morelos scored was a foul. However during the same corner you could clearly see Greg Taylor had both of his arms around Ryan Jack, stopping him from jumping. How did the referee and VAR not see this? No wonder fans and managers get frustrated.”
Stuart Macleod , via email, said: “Andy Walker gave us an insight into how the top officials want to get to the final decision with VAR taking the easy way out. Messrs Clancy and Walsh certainly obliged with the ridiculous decision to chop off the goal from Morelos. If VAR are having a look the original decision would then be where the initial contact starts and a penalty awarded to Rangers. Celtic had a jittery start to the game with some loose play and going a goal down at that stage would have been massive in the context of the game.”
Dr Robert S Pender emailed: “It is time for all Old Firm games to be officiated both on the field and VAR by European officials. Well done Celtic for taking your chances. Rangers so close, but you need a front three who can score.”
But Paul McCormack, Coatbridge, claims to have seen the letter and said: “Dear SFA, why, in the last chance game to salvage some kind of league challenge did you deny poor Alfie a goal in what could be his last league game against Celtic? You broke his wee heart, he's inconsolable right now, in Greggs, with seven chicken bakes and a box of yum yums…”
Hoops fan Kenny Wilson, Moffat, said: “It was probably the worst performance I’ve seen for Celtic since Ange came in and still the Rangers couldn’t beat us. I see they’re writing a letter to the SFA asking why the Morelos goal was disallowed? It’s quite simple if you put two hands on someone’s back and push them, it's a foul.”
Liam Birney, Paisley, said: “In football the team that scores more goals, has more possession, more attempts on goal, more shots on target and more corners normally wins the game. Celtic had all of that and they won, end of."
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: “I hear the Rangers letter also says it’s grossly unfair that the finest striker seen in decades in Kyogo continues to score for fun against his side."
Gerard Kelly , via email, said: “Beale is doing the usual moan, moan, moan when things don’t go his way. Saying he is going to write a letter says it all about this man. How many incidents have happened that never went Celtic’s way over the years. That’s football, stop acting like a spoiled wee boy and deal with the fact you got beat again."
But Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: “If Celtic perform in the Champions' League the way they did against Rangers, they will be horsed. There were too many slack moments."
Gers fan Jamie Thompson, Clydebank, said: “Once again this Rangers defence was shocking. This was obvious before the New Year game and nothing was done to sort it. I’m not convinced that Beal is right manager and someone needs to buy this club and finance a rebuild of this below average team.”
Meanwhile there’s trouble at Tynecastle after five defeats on the spin. Ian McDonald, Innerleithen, said: “Hearts are a shambles. We are in the same muck as when Craig Levein was there. Same style, same boring football. Get Neilson out.”
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