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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Jonny McFarlane

Bemused Rangers to demand answers from SFA over disallowed goal against Celtic

Frustrated Rangers will contact the SFA to demand answers over Kemar Roofe's disallowed goal against Celtic.

It's understood the club will reach out to Head of Referee Operations Crawford Allan to look for answers over his team of officials' decision-making process during the incident.

The 28th minute flashpoint came after Cyriel Dessers robbed Gustaf Lagerbielke of the ball and teed up Roofe to fire past Joe Hart. Referee Don Robertson allowed the goal to stand but he was quickly called to the VAR screen with the team at Clydesdale House, headed up by Alan Muir, suggesting a foul had been committed on the Swede. Robertson watched the replay, agreed with his colleague that the footage showed an infringement and the goal was overturned. Celtic went on to win the game 1-0 after a goal from Kyogo just moments before half time.

Sources at Rangers say officials at the club are bemused by the decision pointing out that any decision to intervene by VAR has to be on account of a clear and obvious error by the referee. 

And while some pundits have agreed with the outcome, many have not, including former grade one referees in Scotland and a Sky Sports Referee Watch panel where all three experts said the wrong decision was reached. That included influential and experienced former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher. This has led Rangers to wonder how the criteria for a clear and obvious error could have been achieved and reach out for answers. 

Gallagher said: "I think the referee got it absolutely right on the pitch. I don't think it's a foul.

"Dessers gets in front of the defender and he's committed no foul at that point. All I can think is that when he looks at the screen, he thinks he pushes him. If VAR hadn't intervened nobody would have been [questioning it]."

The win for Celtic puts them four points clear of their old rivals with only four fixtures played in the Scottish Premiership season.

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