Dear, oh, dear. It seems some people in Glasgow are struggling with the latest Celtic derby triumph on Sunday, with deflection tactics taking a new desperate turn this afternoon.
A goal from Kyogo Furuhashi meant Celtic picked up all three Scottish Premiership points over the weekend. Brendan Rodgers’ team sit top of the table on goal difference, four points clear of our apparent title rivals.
Michael Beale started the distraction game in his post-match interview at Ibrox, suggesting that Don Robertson had got his VAR call to disallow a Kemar Roofe goal wrong. That’s despite replays showing Cyriel Dessers clearly impeding Gustaf Lagerbielke as he attempted to pass the ball back to Joe Hart in the build-up.
For some reason, it’s become the accepted narrative of the aggrieved – including Beale – that Lagerbielke kicked Dessers when he was simply trying to play the ball.
And the gnashing of teeth has continued today with the news that Rangers will be demanding explanations from the Scottish FA for the decision on the day.
It’s reported by the BBC that the Ibrox side will write to the Scottish FA’s head of refereeing Crawford Allan about the incident. For what purpose other than a bit of PR noise, is unknown.
The SFA will surely just inform them that the rules of the game were followed and that Robertson with his initial viewing didn’t see Dessers clip Lagerbielke.
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Ultimately, all it does is create noise around the game that isn’t about Celtic winning one of these crucial derbies yet again or the shabby job Beale is doing with Rangers.
That’s their prerogative, but you’d think they’d get on with the business of looking at their own failings before casting stones elsewhere.
They’ve found themselves in a pretty desperate position despite backing Beale with strong transfer funds in the summer and I don’t think letters to the SFA are going to fix anything.
In other news, New Celtic Bhoy Gustaf Lagerbielke gets milestone international call-up weeks after signing.