Rangers manager Philippe Clement has expressed his frustration over a contentious VAR decision that he believes cost his side a crucial penalty during their Premier Sports Cup final defeat to Celtic.
The Belgian was left baffled after referee John Beaton awarded a free-kick instead of a penalty when Celtic’s Liam Scales appeared to pull Vaclav Cerny’s shirt on the edge of the penalty area early in extra time.
The incident, which came after a pulsating 3-3 draw in regulation time, did not result in a VAR review, leaving Clement furious.
Images that emerged post-match showed Scales tugging Cerny’s shirt on the 18-yard line, a moment Clement said could have changed the course of the game.
Speaking after the match, Clement said: “I don’t know if you saw the images back, but my phone is overloaded with the penalty situation with Cerny. I get hundreds of messages now about that. That’s also a really decisive moment in the game.”
Celtic went on to lift the trophy after a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout, with Ridvan Yilmaz missing the only spot-kick of the night.
Rangers had earlier taken the lead through Nedim Bajrami, only for Greg Taylor and Daizen Maeda to turn the game in Celtic’s favour.
Mohamed Diomande equalised on 75 minutes, and while Nicolas Kuhn thought he had won it for Celtic in the 86th minute, Danilo’s header a minute later forced extra time.
VAR Controversy
Clement was particularly aggrieved that VAR official Alan Muir did not recommend a review of the incident.
“Of course, [Beaton] cannot see that moment. But he didn’t get the communication from the VAR to come to watch the screen, which for me is a really weird situation,” Clement said.
“It’s clear for everybody it’s a game-decisive decision.”
He urged the media to investigate why the VAR team failed to flag such a pivotal moment.
“Maybe it’s also a very important moment to dig into that, about why there’s no communication in that moment about a big decision like that,” he added.
Pride in Performance
Despite the heartbreak, Clement praised his players for their resilience, particularly after their midweek Europa League clash with Tottenham.
“What they did today, how brave they were after a big European night on Thursday, giving a lot against Tottenham,” he said.
“Two days less recovery and showing the physical level they showed today. Also the team spirit, the mentality, but also good football.”
Clement highlighted the significance of the fans’ support despite the loss.
“You see also that the fans, in all the disappointment of not getting this trophy, still applauded the players because they see what they are giving for the club, and that’s what they need to continue doing.”
Yilmaz’s Penalty Miss
Clement defended Yilmaz, whose missed penalty proved decisive in the shootout.
“There are a lot of big names in football who missed penalties,” he said.
“He took his responsibility. We’ve been practising penalties all season, and he did really well in training. It’s part of football, and I’m proud of guys who take responsibility.”
Moving Forward
With Rangers trailing significantly in the league, Clement was clear about the focus for the remainder of the season.
“We don’t need to speak about titles if you’re so many points behind,” he said.
“We need to focus game by game to get the points.”
Rangers will now regroup for their next league fixture against Dundee on Saturday. While the loss at Hampden was a bitter blow, Clement remains optimistic about the team’s progress and the determination of his players to keep fighting. “Good times will come back,” he said confidently.
