Photo exposes another referee error which helped Rangers join Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final

VAR is certainly seems as if it is applied differently between Celtic and Rangers, doesn’t it?

Celtic seem to be continually penalised by the refereeing technology whilst Rangers always have the knack of escaping punishment from VAR as well as the match day officials.

Pattern of assistance is a term that has been created to explain how Rangers seem to benefit positively from refereeing errors and it seems that they got away with yet another one at Easter Road.

Replying to Tam McManus on social media, this eagle-eyed Hibs fan noticed an encroachment when Rangers’ penalty was taken and it should have forced the officials to order a retake.

Tam, you know the penalty rule for encroachment eh? No part of a player allowed in the box/D other than the taker. VAR checked this and still found no fault. It may be minor, but just further shows how non OF teams are officiated different pic.twitter.com/AjoH6JY9z0

— Jòrdán Le Hibéé (@JordanDerHibee) March 10, 2024

Like the poster says, it’s a minor point but as we have all seen this week, certain pundits and fans of a blue persuasion were telling the Celtic fans that by the letter of the law, Hyunjun Yang was correctly ordered off for his high boot against Alex Cochrane last Sunday.

Well, for me, the penalty should have been retaken and after James Tavernier missed his original penalty, you wouldn’t bet against the nerves affecting the retake either.

Unfortunately, we will never know it that would be the case. Because, incredibly, the referee didn’t spot the encroachment and the VAR monitor’s batteries must have run out because if they can spot he most minute of details against Celtic, what’s the reason for missing this at Easter Road last night?

Who knows. Maybe Celtic should demand the SFA release the audio…

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