Scott Allan highlights Rangers VAR disadvantage and insists John Lundstram challenge was 'never a red'

Scott Allan believes Rangers are the first to lose out thanks to the timing of VAR’s introduction to Scottish football.

Gio van Bronckhorst’s side slipped two points behind Celtic at the weekend after their controversial 2-2- draw with Hibs on Saturday. John Lundstram was shown a straight red card with the visitors leading 2-1 at Easter Road, before Alfredo Morelos was later dismissed for a flailing arm on Marijan Cabraja.

Lee Johnson’s men eventually capitalised on their two-man advantage when Josh Campbell fired home a stunning stoppage time equaliser to ensure a share of the spoils in Leith. But Allan reckons VAR would have overturned Lundstram’s sending off had it been in place from the start of the season, rather than being introduced after the World Cup in December. The former Hibs star reckons Lundstram’s challenge on Martin Boyle was only worthy of a yellow, and compared it to a similar challenge by Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier, which was downgraded from a red to a yellow after a review.

And Allan pointed out the disadvantage that some teams could face in the early part of the season before VAR is rolled out across the Scottish premiership. He told Sky Sports: “For me, it’s never a red card. It’s a professional foul. You saw yesterday in the English Premier League game between Newcastle and Man City, it’s self explanatory. If you look at it with VAR, it’s a yellow card all day for me.

“The problem is with VRA getting introduced halfway through the season, these results will have an impact on clubs winning leagues, clubs going down and prize money for the Champions league. The sooner we get it in the better to even these things up.”

As for Morelos’ dismissal, Allan was less convinced than some other pundits.