VAR branded inept for Rangers penalty incident as former referee baffled by failure to spot 'cheating'

Two former referees have blasted VAR and referee Steven McLean for giving Rangers a first half penalty against Livingston.

The clash in West Lothian was littered with interventions from Clydesdale House, including ruling out a Connor Goldson opener. Ross McCausland then raced through on goal and Livi keeper Shamal George was deemed to have made contact with him, which has sparked debate. McLean awarded the penalty and VAR Steven Kirkland didn't intervene, which has left former Grade 1 referees Steve Conroy and Des Roache perplexed. The Light Blues went on to win 2-0 thanks to a Cyriel Dessers effort and James Tavernier penalty, awarded to Rangers after VAR spotted a handball by Mikey Devlin.

In a week where the controversial tech has come under increased scrutiny after Mikel Arteta's fiery Arsenal rant and Brendan Rodgers' call for removal, Conroy says the McCausland incident puts further scrutiny upon it. He told Best Wallet: “What on earth was VAR doing? It makes a complete mockery of it. If VAR does not get involved then they think there was no clear & obvious error. That is appalling.

“VAR is brought into further disrepute if that incident is deemed not worthy of a review. The clamour for its abandonment will be enhanced by that awful decision.”

Roach was on a similar wavelength and has Rangers' young attacker in his crosshairs. He added: “I think it’s cheating – and again VAR proving it is inept. It’s backing up a wrong decision. They have simply compounded the mistake. Both are wrong - plain and simple. There is nothing wrong with the technology – it’s the referee and the video assistant.”