Celtic should back Rangers in VAR audio crusade as Hotline plots retrospective penalty payback

New Year, same old squabbles on the Hotline between the Rangers and Celtic support.

It might seem strange than a penalty appeal that was never a penalty because of an offside is still the hot topic, but welcome to Planet cinch! First up, John Rush, who said: "When does it stop? Rangers rightly don’t get a penalty and Philippe Clement and the rest are apoplectic in rage. Can you imagine they ever have a penalty given against them? They will be screaming from the grassy knoll that it is a bigger conspiracy than the Kennedy assassination and the SFA will need to be taken over by the Warren commission."

Gerry McGhee said: “Celtic should back Rangers to the hilt over the VAR audio and they should also ask for the audio from all the ‘dodgy decisions’ Rangers seem to forget about, for example Connor Goldson playing volleyball in the box last season at Ibrox.”

Jack Armstrong, Bathgate, emailed in: “What needs to be clarified without any doubt is when is a handball a penalty and when is it not. When is a jersey pull in the box a penalty and when is it not. It should not be left to anyone's interpretation. It should be made quite clear.”

Brian McDermott, Maryhill, chipped in: “For goodness sake this Glasgow Derby offside penalty claim is dragging on longer than Cyriel Dessers ‘running’ through on goal!” Paul McArdle, Gourock, added: “Rangers fans tell us the reason they have the world record for not receiving penalties against them is brilliant defending. They need to learn to defend against Kyogo who has just scored seven goals in one calendar year against them.”

Liam Birney, Paisley, added: “You have to laugh at caller George Wilson's warped and deluded rationale built on if's, buts and maybes on a Celtic side he says have been