Former ref blasts VAR for Rangers no goal as he takes aim at Alan Muir for 'exposing' Don Robertson

Former top Scottish referee Des Roache blasted VAR Alan Muir’s “needless” intervention in Don Robertson’s decision to rule out Kemar Roofe’s goal for Rangers in their derby defeat to Celtic at Ibrox.

The ex category one whistler spoke exclusively on the first episode of Record Sport’s brand new Hotline Football Show as he debated the decision along with host Daniel Caw, and our sports writers Keith Jackson and Michael Gannon.

Robertson ruled out Roofe’s first half strike after Alan Muir had urged him to check the monitor for an alleged foul by Cyriel Dessers on Gustaf Lagerbielke in the build-up. But Roache said: “I didn’t think it was a foul. That would happen 99 times out of 100 in the middle of the park and there is nothing given for it. When you slow it down and look at the contact it’s very minimal and I’d be quite happy to support Don on that. I actually think Alan Muir who was on VAR got needlessly involved. He didn’t need to get involved.

"It turned into a game changing because Rangers went 1-0 up. It’s not a free kick. If you’re going to give that as a foul then the game is going to hell in a hand cart. Don was correct not to give it but when he gets that pressure from VAR he’s exposed to unnecessary scrutiny.

“Not every contact is a foul. The benefit has to be given to the referee. Don Robertson made the right call at the right time and as much as we’re lauding VAR coming into our game, that’s a situation where VAR didn’t need to get involved. Nobody would have questioned that. Don got it right in the first instance and Alan Muir made the wrong call.”