It’s really not like the Rangers fans to distract and distort a Celtic result with some manufactured penalty controversy now is it?
We all remember the famous Christopher Jullien goal that helped Celtic beat Rangers in the 2020 League Cup final that the Ibrox support still batter on about to this day.
The meltdown that offside goal caused still carries some real Celtic pain for the Rangers fans and now, after they were denied an apparent penalty in Hampden yesterday, the Ibrox support has gone Tonto now that Celtic have the cup resting nicely in the Parkhead trophy cabinet.
But his hasn’t been helped now that BBC reporter Tom English has put some weight behind the Rangers fans’ claim.
Tom English’s Rangers penalty verdict ripped apart by Celtic fans
Taking to social media, Tom English posted this take:
Butchering a 4 on 1 to go 2-0 ahead will be painful enough to Rangers fans, but this episode at 3-3 will fry their brains for a long time. It’s a penalty. No explanation yet why it wasn’t given in real time (understandable) or why VAR didn’t intervene (inexplicable) pic.twitter.com/0OFmxw2Hbf
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) December 16, 2024
It’s pretty clear VAR did intervene and agreed that John Beaton’s real-time call was factually correct so to suggest otherwise without firm proof is slightly misleading.
And English’s claims were quickly taken apart by Celtic fans:
Scales got penalised for the first foul, which was outside the box. This is the 2nd one. But ref had already given the first foul.
— Gerry Church (@gerry_church) December 16, 2024
So when English replied with this the BBC man left himself wide open for ridicule:
How do you know? Has the ref said it? No. Has anybody said it? No. Did VAR intervene? No. Is there any clarity? No. Was there a foul in the box? Yes
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) December 16, 2024
If English was so sure it was a penalty, how does HE know that the ref didn’t blow for the first foul?
Well Wullie Collum has apparently said Beaton was correct and he could only be if the original foul tackle was not on the line which it wasn't. Otherwise you r accusing officials of bias , something I've never heard you suggest before. It's the tackle not the tug. Get it?
— Auldheid (@Auldheid) December 16, 2024
Tom’s assertion is starting to unravel quickly:
How do you know it wasn't though? Did the ref tell you? Did VAR intervene and the ref told them? So the foul in the box would become irrelevant…..
— Peter Mac 🍀 (@Peter_mac_13) December 16, 2024
Tom’s nightmare is about to come to the fore right about… now!
Tom there’s a lunging kick out before the short grab, that’s what’s came 1st … the fact he grab his shirt after isn’t what the ref blew for.https://t.co/v8KL1vm8Q7
— John Tierney (@johntierney88) December 16, 2024
It’s not going well…
Var reviewed it in real time and said no penalty as the foul was outside the box.
— Vinikama (@vinikama) December 16, 2024
I know this because the commentators who can hear the VAR discussions told us as much
And to prove that VAR did have a look at the foul, a Celtic fan posted actual footage of the match commentator confirming the video referee was ‘satisfied’ that the foul was given for the first Liam Scales tackle.
VAR did check it as clearly explained by Rory Hamilton in the subsequent replay. pic.twitter.com/5LZW8sVlVi
— Brian (@Stoneysnapper) December 16, 2024
Unlucky Tom, better luck next time.