Bobby Madden breaks down Rangers VAR call for disallowed goal as former ref admits initial 'p****d about' reaction

Bobby Madden has defended the decision to rule out a Rangers goal against Celtic.

Kemar Roofe thought he'd fired Michael Beale's team into the lead in the first Old Firm clash of the season at Ibrox. But a VAR check cut the celebrations short in Govan after Cyriel Dessers was adjudged to have fouled Gustaf Lagerbielke in the build-up. Opinions have differed in the aftermath of the game, which Celtic won 1-0 thanks to Kyogo's fine strike on the stroke of half-time.

But former Premiership whistler Madden has no weighed in with an explanation. The ex-ref shared a series of images on his Instagram story, breaking the incident down and highlighting the key part that meant it was a foul on Celtic's new Swedish centre back. Madden admitted that in real time, he thought it was the wrong call but after watching replays and with the benefit of his experience, agreed with the decision.

He said: "The defender is on control. The defender's action is to play the ball with his left foot.

"This is the important part. The attacker has not played the ball at this point and puts his foot in between the defender and the ball. It's a foul anywhere on the pitch, no matter what happens thereafter.

"Had the attacker played the ball before the contact, fine. But he was never in control or possession.

"Live, like most people watching, I would never think foul. Naturally you think 'he has p****d about and been caught on the ball.' But when you have VAR and all the angles, you can't allow a goal when you have all that evidence."