Rangers penalty 'seed of doubt' ignored as ex ref claims VAR broke protocol during Celtic flashpoint

A former top flight referee has claimed Rangers should have been awarded with a penalty in extra time of a cup final epic against Celtic.

Speaking on Record Sport’s Hotline Live, ex-grade one whistler Des Roache insisted VAR Alan Muir should have spotted Liam Scales hauling down Vaclav Cerny inside the penalty box. And Roache believes Muir broke with protocol by failing to tell ref John Beaton to take a look at the flashpoint for himself on the pitch side monitor. Roache said: “The laws of the game state that, if you are pulling a player outside the penalty area and it continues inside the penalty area it’s a penalty kick.

“Going by the footage we are seeing, Liam Scales clearly has a hold of Cerny whose foot is on the line. The line is part of the penalty box so therefore it should have been a penalty. You’ve got to go by fact. And the factual letter of the law is that’s a penalty kick.

“I don’t understand why VAR didn’t pick it up because that’s what VAR is there for. It’s there to pick up obvious errors and they have the benefit of hindsight and being able to slow down the camera. So I was very surprised that it wasn’t given.

In case you haven't heard, we've launched a new Hotline Live show, airing at 6pm every day, with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays.

Join our panel for a laugh, a moan and a look at all things Scottish football, as well as having your say on the biggest issues in the game.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss a single episode.

Alternatively, you can watch on Facebook or Twitter.

Need to get something off your chest? Have your say on what's happening in the world of Scottish football by contacting us at hotline@dailyrecord.co.uk.

You can find out more about the show here and