Rangers have demanded an explanation from the Scottish FA regarding a controversial penalty decision that they believe cost them a chance at League Cup success at Hampden on Sunday.
Philippe Clement’s team suffered a narrow defeat in a dramatic penalty shootout, with Ridvan Yilmaz missing his spot-kick, allowing Celtic to claim the trophy after a thrilling 3-3 draw over 120 minutes. However, the focus of Rangers’ frustration lies in an incident during extra time, when Vaclav Cerny was denied what appeared to be a clear penalty in the Old Firm clash.
According to the Rangers Review, the club’s leadership has sought clarification on the matter, particularly regarding the role of VAR official Alan Muir, who failed to intervene after referee John Beaton awarded a free-kick for a foul on Cerny just outside the penalty area. Replays indicated the infringement occurred on the 18-yard line, meaning a penalty should have been awarded. Instead, the decision went uncorrected, and James Tavernier missed the ensuing free-kick.
New Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart addressed the issue on Monday, contacting referee chief Willie Collum to seek answers. Clement expressed his anger over the decision in his post-match press conference, describing the situation as “cruel” and questioning why VAR technology wasn’t used to review such a pivotal moment.
“Football can be amazing, but it can also be incredibly cruel,” Clement said. “This was a really cruel one. My team created more chances than the opponent and deserved better. Losing on penalties feels like a gamble.
“But the penalty situation with Cerny is decisive. My phone has been flooded with messages about it. The referee didn’t see it clearly, but VAR also failed to step in. It’s strange that such a situation wasn’t even reviewed in a game of this magnitude.”
Clement admitted he couldn’t determine the exact location of the foul during the match but emphasized that the use of technology should have ensured the correct decision. Rangers now await a response from the Scottish FA regarding the handling of the incident.
