Dermot Gallagher debunks 2 Celtic red card theories as Rangers VAR grilling sparks ‘re-refereeing’ inquiry

Former referee Dermot Gallagher has shut down a claim that Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers could have been sent off against Rangers.

Referee John Beaton had a busy afternoon during the 3-3 Scottish Premiership firecracker with Celtic being awarded a first-half penalty following a handball by Connor Goldson, allowing Matt O'Riley to score from the spot to make it 2-0. Rangers would earn an penalty of their own when Alistair Johnston was judged to have Fabio Silva in the box with James Tavernier beating Joe Hart from 12-yards.

Seconds later, Cyriel Dessers thought he had levelled the game at 2-2 – but VAR and Beaton chalked off the strike for a foul on Tomoki Iwata by Tom Lawrence in the build-up. Sky Sports pundit Stephen Warnock was determined to add to the whistler's workload as he put the Celtic centre-back in focus on Ref Watch.

The former Liverpool star said: "I watched the start of this game and Carter-Vickers kicked a ball away. I listen to the commentary and they say they are reluctant to give a yellow card because it's the magnitude of the game.

"And I think, it's the law. And then Carter-Vickers made another foul and I'm thinking 'he should be off the pitch'. Is that something we will be talking about in a game of this magnitude?"

Gallagher was having none of it, responding: "I think there is a few issues with that, Firstly, you go into that game and the referee would not want to give out a yellow card. He would not want the players to put him in that position. If he gives Carter-Vickers a yellow card he is massively under pressure - the player and himself. You can't ever say he should be sent off for a second yellow card because he didn't get the first one. You are right, you don't want it to happen