Dermot Gallagher names John Beaton sin in Rangers penalty escape and reveals why VAR couldn’t intervene

Dermot Gallagher reckons that referee John Beaton was not in the correct position to see a potential Hearts penalty during their clash with Rangers.

The Jambos fans fumed after Beaton shut down penalty claims after defender Clinton Nsiala clashed with James Wilson in the box with the Scottish Premiership clash poised at 1-1. Rangers immediately hit them on the break and Vaclav Cerny put Philippe Clement's men in front in the capital seconds after the contact. Steven McLean in the VAR room opted against intervening at Tynecastle - leaving the visitors in the lead before the eventually secured a 3-1 win and a vital three points in the capital.

The former Premier League referee told Sky Sports' Ref Watch that Beaton was left catching up with play following the flashpoint. However, he felt that Nsiala's movement did not meet the "threshold" for VAR intervention from McLean and the team in Clydesdale House.

Gallagher said: "I think the referee - you can't even see him in the starting picture because he is way behind. I think when this ball comes in, whether it's a foul or not, he can't tell because the player is between them.

"There is a little push there - is it enough to give a penalty? He (Beaton) has to call it down the barrel view, he can't see it, it goes to VAR and they will say it doesn't meet the threshold."

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