Rangers goal debate sparks referee 'concern' as Scottish game told to follow rugby's lead after VAR controversy

It's a staple of the rugby game - and one pundit reckons football would be wise to follow suit.

Abdallah Sima's goal for Rangers against Livingston in their 4-0 Viaplay Cup quarter-final win has sparked controversy, after he appeared to push Jamie Brandon before winning the ball and eventually tucking it away. Debate has raged throughout Thursday after Livi boss David Martindale was left irked by it, and the phone-ins are no exception. Willie Collum gave the decision on the field and VAR official Nick Walsh didn't ask him to take a second look.

One punter called in to Clyde 1 Superscoreboard with their take on VAR, and suggested the Scottish game should follow rugby's lead, where match officials are mic'd up and you can hear their discussions on decisions. Pundit Gordon Dalziel said that Livingston wouldn't have got the decision had the shoe been on the other foot. He explained: "For me, clear foul. If that is up the other end, there's absolutely no way Livi are getting away with it.

"I thought when looking at that, I couldn't believe he let that decision go. That's a free-kick for me and people are entitled to their own opinion, I am not saying because I have said it that it's 100 per cent, but if I am David Martindale I would have been livid.

"Would it have made any difference in the result? Probably not but it was a big time, it was 1-0 going in at half-time. I have been a manager going to Ibrox and when you go in 0-0 at half-time, it makes such a difference sitting in that dressing room rather than going in at 1-0 thinking this is going to be a long road back to get back into his cup tie."

Former Celtic defender Mark Wilson was in agreement with Dalziel, and also the caller over his rugby suggestion. He explained: