Aiden McGeady believes Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland may have risked a red card during the closing stages of the Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic.
The incident, which occurred during extra time, has become a hot topic of discussion, adding to the controversy surrounding the match.
The primary focus post-match has been on the contentious decision involving Celtic’s Liam Scales, who brought down Vaclav Cerny on the edge of the box late in regular time.
Referee John Beaton awarded Rangers a free-kick, a decision backed by VAR official Alan Muir. However, replays suggested Cerny’s foot was on the line of the penalty area, meaning a spot-kick should have been given.
Rangers manager Philippe Clement was vocal in his frustration after his team lost in a penalty shootout, with several pundits supporting his stance.
However, McGeady, a former Celtic hero, shifted the narrative by highlighting another controversial moment involving Rangers’ No. 1, Jack Butland.
In the second half of extra time, Butland rushed out to collect a long ball from Reo Hatate, which was intended for Daizen Maeda, who had beaten James Tavernier in a foot race.
Initially, it appeared Butland was outside his area when he caught the ball, but he seemed to adjust his footing just in time to remain within the box.
Speaking on the BBC Scottish Football Podcast, McGeady said:
“I have not seen the image yet (of the Cerny foul), but at the time I did think it was tight. Also, on that one as well, I am thinking back to the Jack Butland one. It’s not as big a moment but when Butland caught the ball just at the edge of his area – that is one I thought could have been looked at because I thought that was tight as well.”
Had the incident been flagged by VAR, Beaton would have faced a critical decision. According to IFAB rules, if a goalkeeper denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity outside the box, they could be shown a red card. However, if the action only stops a promising attack, a yellow card would suffice.
With Maeda potentially through on goal, the call could have had a significant impact on the outcome of the match, further adding to the drama at Hampden.
