Celtic fans ridicule Rangers for penalty appeal as new footage emerges from Old Firm derby incident
Celtic fans have mocked Rangers over the penalty appeal that was ignored in the first half of a feisty Old Firm derby at Parkhead after VAR’s reasoning was later explained.
Rangers’ run of 10 league wins from their last 11 matches has seen them close the gap to Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
It set up a tantalising Old Firm derby at Parkhead with Rangers fans setting off fireworks and flares outside the stadium before the match.
The stadium was jumping as the game got underway with both sides going on the offensive to try and get the upper hand.
Celtic drew first blood midway through the first half through an excpetional finish from Paulo Bernardo.
But the game was stopped in the latter stages of the first half when VAR wanted to take a look at an incident in the box involved Celtic’s Alistair Johnston.
The Celtic defender appeared to be caught out by a high bouncing ball and replays showed that the ball hit his hand before it went out of play.
But the VAR decided against awarding a penalty, much to the dismay of Rangers fans who saw the clip.
One fan fumed on X: “This is the most obvious penalty ever Rangers are getting robbed.”
Another wrote: “Ano we all make jokes about Rangers and penalties but that’s probably the biggest stone wall penalty ever. Incredible how that’s no been given.”
A third posted: “How in the world have Celtic got away with that, the lad literally slaps the ball out of play. All that talk about Rangers and penalties?”
But Sky Sports explained later in the second half that they were later told by VAR that there was an offside in the build-up to the handball incident.
Abdallah Sima appeared to be standing in an offside position when the initial pass was played over the top of Celtic’s defence.
And Celtic supporters quickly mocked Rangers fans for “crying” about the VAR decision after the real reason was given.
One Celtic fan mockingly wrote: “It was offside so stick your theories where the sun don’t shine.”
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Another posted: “He was offside during the phase of play, case closed. Cry harder.”
A third said: “Was offside in the build up anyway so cry more.”
Celtic went on to double their lead in the second half with Kyogo Furuhashi pulling off a sensational strike from the edge of the box.
Rangers’ task of pulling off a comeback was made that bit tougher when Leon Balogun was sent off.
James Tavernier gave Rangers a chance of snatching a draw after scoring a free-kick just before stoppage time, but they were unable to find an equaliser.