St Johnstone players were left furious after Cyriel Dessers' strike at Hampden was allowed to stand.
The Rangers striker had rifled home in the second half for Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup but it appeared the goal would be chopped off as ref Matthew MacDermid signalled for a foul.
The official pointed for a foul from Dessers on Jack Sanders before the ball hit the net but then gave the goal after a pitchside review.
Cyriel Dessers gives Rangers the lead, but only after a very contentious VAR review 🔵 "St. Johnstone will be absolutely furious with this" 🎙️ "Effectively, it is the right decision" 🗣️#PremierSportsCup pic.twitter.com/u6mUkp1vZN
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) August 17, 2024
There was anger over the situation from St Johnstone officials while commentator Michael Stewart slaughtered the referee even if the right decision was reached.
Later replays confirmed MacDermid blew for a foul just after Dessers scored and that is permissible under IFAB Laws of the Game VAR guidance.
While there is a stress on referees always making an initial decision, crucially guidance does state delaying for an offence is permissible in a "very clear attacking situation".
The IFAB VAR protocol guidance reads: "Delaying the flag/whistle for an offence is only permissible in a very clear attacking situation when a player is about to score a goal or has a clear run into/towards the opponents’ penalty area".
Stewart had said on Premier Sports commentary: "Rory, I've got to say this is bizarre. If you see a free-kick you don't wait to allow the game to be played out. A free-kick then you blow your whistle, you don't wait.
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"An attacking player fouling a defender, you don't wait to play on. This should be a goal because Dessers doesn't foul the defender but if the referee saw it that way, he should have blown his whistle.
"It's a mistake from the officials. As far as I am concerned. You can understand why the St Johnstone players are unhappy and they are miffed.
"But effectively, it is the right decision. Cyriel Dessers did not foul Jack Sanders and the goal should have been allowed.
"If the referee had just kept his whistle in his mouth the whole time and never given the foul, correct, goal. That's the right decision but the referee has made a mess of it and the VAR officials have tried to give him a get out.
"I don't feel as if that was the right sequence of events."
