Celtic loanee caught up in VAR drama at Ibrox

By John McGinley

January 28, 2023

It’s very rare that you see a referee overturn a suggested VAR review at the side of a football pitch but that’s exactly what happened today at Ibrox after a rash Ryan Jack tackle on Celtic loanee Adam Montgomery.

The Bhoys youngster, who is on loan until the end of the season, was scythed down by Jack in the first half of the match between Rangers and St Johnstone.

The VAR officials at Clydesdale House, led by Nick Walsh, suggested to Willie Collum that it should be reviewed as a red card challenge on the touchline. The match referee ultimately decided he should stick with his original yellow card decision.

Remarkably that came after a Nicky Clark St Johnstone red card for a challenge that was equally, or perhaps even less, severe. Callum Davidson was left fuming in the dugout.

For many observers, including the BBC Sportsound panel [Open All Mics, first half], either both were reds or both yellows – lack of consistency even within the small context of a match was highlighted as a big issue.

Prior to that, Rangers were given a penalty for one of those very debatable handball decisions that have been annoying almost everyone in Scottish football since VAR’s implementation.

It’s just the latest VAR circus in the Scottish Premiership after a number of baffling calls over the last few months. Rangers have been on the very ‘lucky’ side of many of them, which is ironic when you consider the comments of some managers.

No doubt there will be plenty of further opinion flying about on all this drama at Ibrox, with Michael Stewart said by BBC Radio Scotland host Kenny Macintyre to be particularly perplexed. He is on Sportscene highlights duty later.

We await the chaos that could come in tomorrow’s Tannadice kick-off!

In other news, Liverpool announce first 4 players for legends match against Celtic.