Beale hits out at VAR over disallowed goal

MICHAEL BEALE last night questioned the application of VAR during Rangers’ Old Firm loss to Celtic.

Defeated by the odd goal in five, the Ibrox boss focused in on a key first-half incident in a match he felt his team had been unlucky to lose.

Kevin Clancy’s decision to rule out an Alfredo Morelos goal was followed by a quick VAR review that saw no clear and obvious error from the referee, who adjudged the striker guilty of fouling Alistair Johnston as they jostled in the penalty area. Beale disagreed with that verdict, with reports circulating last night that Rangers will write to the SFA demanding an explanation for the decision.

He said: ‘The first goal, you look at Alfredo’s shirt, it’s twisted round his back and I don’t think their player is trying to play the ball. Only one player is trying to play the ball. There was a lot going on with the two players, so why pick on our player in that moment?

‘Kevin sees it there and then. The referee on the pitch has to see what he gives. They are very fussy about that.

‘The guys outside in the studio are seeing it and replaying it and all I would ask is, look at the number on the back of Alfredo’s shirt, who’s pulling who?

‘They’re both holding. One’s trying to play the ball, I don’t think (the other) is trying to play the ball, he’s trying to stop Alfredo. Ben Davies makes a mistake (at Celtic’s second goal) with a clearance up in the air, heads it against Jota and it hits his arm.

‘I know it’s not outside his body but to not get one of the two is harsh.

‘So, okay, we lose the game but I think it’s a bit of feedback for them because it’s a big decision in the game.’

Although Beale made a point of highlighting those perceived injustices, he was