Four Rangers vs Celtic referee decisions in focus and what VAR told official over Ibrox penalty shout

Rangers vs Celtic ended in drama and carnage after a hard-fought 120 minutes of Scottish Cup quarter-final required penalties to sort things out.

Tomas Cvancara’s spot kick for the Hoops sealed a 4-2 shootout success but ugly scenes ensued when both sets of supporters ended up on the pitch post-match. That has taken away from much of the analysis of what went on during the 0-0 affair where a lack of quality was clear despite the best efforts of those who featured.

Don Robertson was the official trusted with the powder keg fixture and it wasn’t a day filled with refereeing talking points galore, but there were still some things for him and the VAR team to sort. Here are four of the key incidents from the latest Old Firm derby.

Auston Trusty handball

This was the first thing to kick off in the game as a Rangers shot struck the arm of the Celtic defender. It was deemed that the centre-back’s arm was in a natural position after cries from the home fans initially went up.

Premier Sports co-commentators Lennon and Hutton both thought it was a spot kick on first glance but each of them changed their opinion upon getting replays, so everyone seemed to be agreeing that a spot kick would not have been the right call. Commentator Rory Hamilton said of the guidance from the refereeing control room: “VAR have looked at it. It’s been confirmed as it's a throw-in, essentially play-on, from where we were. The arm was close into the body. That's the instruction from Andrew Dallas on VAR.”

Daizen Maeda disallowed goal

A tight offside call this. Luke McCowan’s cross into the box was met by Liam Scales and then nodded into the net by Daizen Maeda’s head. The stoppage ensued and the lines were drawn up to have judged Scales’ boot to be offside. It wasn’t spotted on the pitch but VAR did its jon, ex-referee Keith Hackett telling Ibrox News: “The Celtic goal was correctly ruled out for offside after VAR intervention. I was impressed by the speed at which the VAR control centre made this correct decision.”

Dujon Sterling challenge on Joel Mvuka

It perhaps wouldn’t have merited much attention had Sterling not been on a booking. The right-back went into a challenge with Celtic substitute Mvuka and clearly fouled him, in a move he probably didn’t have to make. Probably the right call, just, but former Hoops boss Neil Lennon reckoned Sterling was walking a fine line with such a move.

He said that ‘he’s got to be careful as he’s on a booking’ and Rangers hero Alan Hutton ‘you don’t have to make that challenge.’

Emmanuel Fernandez disallowed goal

Fernandez has been a threat from set-plays for Rangers and again looked to have made his mark here. Replays showed however that it clearly struck his arm and a ‘factual overturn’ was initiated by VAR to see this chopped.

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