Chris Sutton has hit out at John Beaton’s decision to award a penalty to Rangers after a VAR review
Despite Beaton initially booking Fabio Silva for diving after a VAR on-field review, the Scottish referee awarded Rangers a penalty.
Sutton said: (X), “Incredible game. Great advert for Scottish footballđź‘Źđź‘ŹCeltic controlled the first half and should have been out of site. The Rangers penalty award rewarding Silva for diving was embarrassing and changed the dynamic. Idah’s goal sensational as was Matondo’s leveller”.
The former Celtic striker is correct to hit out at the penalty decision, which was baffling to watch over and over, with the VAR still images highlighting minimal contact and Silva seemingly looking for the opportunity to go down.
Ultimately, the penalty was a turning point in the game, and if not for poor officiating and VAR intervention, we may very well have been talking about a Celtic win, highlighting yet another costly refereeing decision.
For all VAR’s strengths, this season in Scottish football officials have simply ruined games at times with intervention when it simply was not necessary.
With Brendan Rodgers in the stands for the Livingston game through his previous comments on VAR, he will likely be reserved in the comments he makes on the penalty award to Rangers.
