Ex-ref points out fatal flaw in Rangers vs Celtic ‘offside’ VAR call

Former referee Steve Conroy reckons Rangers were robbed of a clear penalty during today’s pulsating Old Firm showdown.

Conroy is certain that when Alistair Johnston, under pressure from Abdallah Sima, took the ball out of play with his right hand, Phillipe Clement’s team should have been awarded a penalty kick.

Sima was offside, according to Sky Sports, thus the handball could not stand. However, Conroy is pointing out that VAR is unable to intervene in an offside scenario in order to look for a penalty.

“Rangers have been robbed of the chance to level the game with a penalty kick,” Conroy said It was obviously a penalty.

“Offside doesn’t matter. Only in the event of a result, such as a goal, can VAR check for offside. It wasn’t there.

“Willie Collum is present to determine if a hand ball occurred or not.

“The telling situation is that, instead of an indirect free kick, which would have occurred if the offside had been awarded, the game was restarted with a goal kick.”