The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has acknowledged that Rangers were wrongfully denied a crucial penalty during their Premier Sports Cup final loss to Celtic at Hampden on Sunday.
The admission came following discussions between Rangers’ new chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and Willie Collum, the SFA’s Head of Referee Operations.
The controversy centred on an incident in extra time when Celtic defender Liam Scales appeared to tug on Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny’s jersey.
Referee John Beaton awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area, but VAR failed to alert him that the foul had occurred on the line, which should have resulted in a penalty.
James Tavernier’s subsequent free kick went over the bar, leaving Rangers fans incensed.
The mistake, confirmed during Stewart’s conversation with Collum, will be addressed in the SFA’s weekly VAR Review Show, scheduled to air this week.
This review, along with a Key Match Incident panel report set to be published on Friday, is expected to highlight the error.
Stewart’s Reaction to the Incident
Patrick Stewart, who officially began his tenure as Rangers’ chief executive on Monday, described the start of his role as “bittersweet” due to the nature of the defeat. Speaking to Rangers TV, Stewart said:
“Yesterday was my first day and we were still licking our wounds from Sunday. It was a disappointing manner of defeat, but we can take a lot from it.”
Acknowledging the controversy, he added:
“As people will know, I have spoken with the SFA for an explanation about the non-awarding of a penalty in extra time. I’ll wait to hear what the SFA have to say about that.”
Fallout from the Decision
The SFA has reportedly acknowledged the error, but Stewart’s dissatisfaction highlights Rangers’ ongoing frustration with officiating standards.
VAR referee Alan Muir and assistant Frank O’Connor have not been allocated matches this weekend, while Beaton is set to officiate Hearts vs St Johnstone on Sunday.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement was visibly angered after the match and urged reporters to investigate the decision. Speaking to the media, he said:
“My phone was already overloaded with images just minutes after the game showing exactly where the foul occurred.”
Moving Forward
Despite the disappointment, Stewart emphasized the importance of looking ahead. Reflecting on his new role, he noted the challenges Rangers face both on and off the pitch:
“There’s a lot we can be proud of in terms of what’s been achieved so far, perhaps in trying circumstances, over the past seven months in particular. But equally, we’ve got some really strong foundations to build from.”
Rangers currently sit third in the Premiership, two points behind Aberdeen and 11 points adrift of leaders Celtic. Stewart admitted the club is not where it wants to be, saying:
“There’s been no secret that on the park we are not where we want to be in terms of trophies. Off the park, the agm results were there for all to see.”
The club recently announced a £17.2 million loss for the year to June, despite generating £88.3 million in revenue. Stewart acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed optimism about Rangers’ future:
“Sometimes the wider perception for Rangers hasn’t been where we want it to be, so there are challenges there. But equally, we’ve got some really strong foundations to build from.”
The Road Ahead
While the fallout from Sunday’s Cup final continues to dominate headlines, Stewart and Rangers are keen to focus on the positives.
As the team battles for domestic success and the club aims to rebuild financially, the new chief executive is determined to guide Rangers through what he described as “trying circumstances” to a brighter future.
