Heavily criticised VAR officials Alan Muir and Frank Connor are making a remarkable comeback this week despite a howler during the Premier Sports Cup final that sparked outrage among fans and pundits alike.
The duo were benched by the SFA following their major blunder at Hampden, where Rangers were denied a clear penalty against Celtic.
In a moment that could have changed the game's tide, Muir and Connor failed to intervene when Celtic’s Liam Scales brought down Vaclav Cerny just inside the box. Instead of awarding a penalty, on-field referee John Beaton opted for a free-kick, a decision that VAR's Muir and his team failed to overturn.
Following the incident, new Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart demanded immediate clarification from the SFA and even refereeing chief Willie Collum didn’t hold back, labeling the decision to deny the spot-kick as “unacceptable” and stressing that it was a straightforward call that should have been made.
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In light of the backlash, Muir and Connor were sidelined from all officiating duties over the weekend, a decision Collum said was essential for accountability in the wake of the controversy. However, the pair is set to return to the pitch following the Christmas break.
Frank Connor will take up linesman duties at Rugby Park on Boxing Day for the Kilmarnock vs Aberdeen clash, while Alan Muir will have to wait just a bit longer to make his comeback, stepping in as VAR for the December 29 showdown between St Mirren and Dundee.
Adding to the drama, Connor will also be back in action at Celtic Park on the same day, running the line for Celtic’s match against St Johnstone.
