The controversy surrounding the penalty shootout overshadowing Celtic’s League Cup final triumph over Rangers remains a hot topic. Rıdvan Yılmaz, who was brought to tears after his penalty miss sealed Celtic’s victory, is not the only one still emotional, as the heartbreak lingers for Rangers fans following the dramatic six-goal showdown at Hampden.
The controversy revolves around Liam Scales’ foul on Vaclav Cerny, with debates over whether the opposition should have been awarded a penalty in extra time rather than just a free kick.
The key issue is that Cerny’s foot was on the line, which many argue qualified for a penalty as Scales was pulling his shirt. However, VAR did not prompt on-field referee John Beaton to review the incident on the monitor.
Since then, Willie Collum, head of referees, addressed the issue on the VAR Review show, stating the incident should have been deemed a penalty and overturned as a factual error.
Neil Lennon has also weighed in, criticizing the decision-making process and suggesting that someone of Collum’s caliber should be present for high-stakes games. He called the handling of the situation “unacceptable” and emphasized the need for such decisions to be correct on the day, rather than analyzed in hindsight.
Speaking on Rangers’ frustration following the incident, Lennon urged them to “move on,” acknowledging their strong performance and suggesting they use the experience as motivation.
Addressing accusations of bias after Celtic’s victory, Lennon dismissed the claims, stating it’s unfair to blame the SFA chief for an on-pitch decision. He expressed confidence in the integrity of the process, despite the rivalry’s intensity.
Celtic and Rangers are set to meet again on January 2 in a Premiership clash, and it’s likely this penalty controversy will remain a talking point, especially with Rangers currently trailing Celtic by 11 points.
