'I'm amazed...' – BBC Sportscene pundit wowed by Rangers v Celtic controversy

Rangers players should have gone “berserk” at John Beaton and VAR after Vaclav Cerny was denied a penalty against Celtic, Neil McCann has said.

Speaking on BBC Sportscene (15 December), McCann was amazed that the Light Blues didn’t put more pressure on the officials to change their minds after Liam Scales tugged at Cerny in extra time.

Beaton did give a foul and awarded the Gers a free-kick from just outside the area, but Scales’ shirt pull took place with Cerny’s foot on the line of the 18-yard box, meaning a penalty should’ve been given.

McCann said: “Listen, if you’re on the line, you’re inside the box – look at the jersey pull.

“The foot is on the line, and that’s what’s tugging him down, it’s the pull – inside the box – and therefore it should be a penalty.

“I’m amazed that the Rangers are not going berserk there and putting pressure on the VAR to take a look at that.

“Maybe they have and they’ve just said to John Beaton ‘there’s nothing to see here’ – there’s plenty to see there, that should have been a penalty.”

Vaclav Cerny controversy proves costly for Rangers v Celtic

Given Scales’ challenge on Cerny took place in the first half of a nail-bitingly close extra time period at Hampden, awarding a penalty could well have made all the difference for Philippe Clement’s side.

Had Beaton and VAR correctly given Gers a penalty, James Tavernier would’ve only had Kasper Schmeichel to beat from 12 yards, rather than a Celtic wall which he subsequently blazed over.

Given the Bears captain tucked home the first spot-kick of the ensuing shoot-out, fans of both teams would have expected him to do likewise if handed the opportunity before the final whistle went.

It’s always difficult to say whether or not a penalty in the first half of extra time would have been the game-winning moment for the Gers, especially after Celtic scored twice in four minutes when 1-0 down.

But the character shown by Clement’s side to get themselves back level – when trailing both 2-1 and 3-2 – suggests that had they taken a 4-3 lead in a cup final for the ages, it would have been the winning moment.

In other Rangers news, James Taylor revealed why Gers haven’t been able to reap the rewards of a major cost-cutting measure.

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