Rangers demand SFA release VAR audio from Celtic penalty snub as club claim Sky 'deeply unhappy' after flashpoint

Rangers have demanded that the SFA release the VAR audio from the Celtic game after the Ibrox side were denied a penalty at Celtic Park.

Going into the half-time break, Alistair Johnston appeared to push the ball out of play with his hand when involved in a tussle inside the box with Rangers attacker Abdallah Sima. Referee Nick Walsh did not point to the spot while the VAR room by Willie Collum backed up the official - with claims of a handball initially appearing to be rejected. At the half-time break, pundits James McFadden, Neil Lennon and Kris Boyd would tell Sky that the Celtic star should have been penalised for handball.

Commentator Ian Crocker took the opportunity during a break in play in the action to try to clear up the situation by saying he had since been told that a potential offside in the build-up was behind the big talking point not penalising the home side. Now Rangers have demanded clarification and that audio is released.

They add that the broadcaster was also "deeply unhappy and confused" by the situation. A statement read: "Rangers have asked the SFA to make the VAR audio available to the club to understand why no penalty was awarded despite a clear handball by Celtic's Alistair Johnston.

"The club is keen to understand the process that led to that decision being made, as it was not made public at the time nor communicated to our team. We also understand Sky as the league's official broadcaster is deeply unhappy and confused with the situation.

"Their panel spent half-time in agreement that Rangers should have been awarded a penalty unaware of any offside check. Again, this only surfaced in the second half. Rangers remains advocates of VAR but there must be significantly more transparency for it