James Tavernier believes referee Kevin Clancy should have been called to consult the pitchside VAR monitor before making a final decision on Alfredo Morelos’ disallowed goal.
The Rangers striker was penalised for wrestling with Alistair Johnston after he diverted in a corner that would have put the Ibrox side a goal to the good at Celtic Park. Following a video review, VAR Nick Walsh sided with Clancy’s original decision – an outcome branded ‘embarrassing’ by pundit and club legend Ally McCoist, and one which has reportedly prompted Rangers to seek answers from the Scottish FA.
Celtic took the lead shortly after through Kyogo Furuhashi, and eventually ran out 3-2 winners to move 12 points clear at the top of the Premiership. Rangers captain Tavernier, who reached 100 goals for the club with a double on the day, insisted he did not want to get bogged down discussing VAR - but does feel there is ‘room for improvement’ in the decision-making process.
“I can’t honestly speak about that too much,” he said. “It is down to the officials at the end of the day. With that first goal with Alfredo, I thought he could have had a look at the screen for himself. In their second goal nothing gets looked at.
“We are always constantly speaking about it. There is obviously room for improvement. But we as a team have got to do enough to get it over the line ourselves.
“As a team, if decisions are not going our way we have still got to do everything possible to try and win the game or to get something out of the game.
“It is just the fine margins in that final third. I had a chance with my head. We also had a good counter attack, a three v two, and we didn’t capitalise on it. They are the small margins.”
In the usual frenzied aftermath, Tavernier could only reflect on his milestone goal against a backdrop of anguish. He also believes Celtic’s Jota handled the ball moments prior to Kyogo's second goal.
“Obviously it was not the way I wanted it [the 100th goal],” Tavernier said. “It is frustrating because I felt that for parts of the game we controlled the ball really well. We went in at half-time at 1-1. I thought the game could have changed when Alfredo scored.
“I didn’t think it was a foul. Then obviously we made a couple of mistakes. But I have seen back their second goal and it comes off Jota’s hand. So it is one of those where it is a disappointing.
“But even at 3-2 we had a couple of chances where we could have levelled it and we didn’t. Leaving without picking up anything is disappointing.”
