In the aftermath of yesterday’s drama-filled Premier Sports Cup final, the blue half of Glasgow have been in meltdown after they weren’t awarded a penalty in extra time.
The game was finely poised at 3-3 going into a decisive 30-minute period.
Liam Scales dallied with the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and was pressured by Vaclav Cerny.
The winger nipped in front of the Irishman and won the ball back, only to be subsequently fouled. Now, this is where it gets particular.
Most Rangers fans, and Philippe Clement, for that matter, think Bajrami’s shirt was pulled, and it was. His foot was on the edge of the box, too, and the top-tugging took place inside the penalty area, which would indicate a spot-kick should’ve been given.
However, everyone is failing to notice what the free-kick was given for: a previous foul by Scales.
Indeed, if you watch the incident back, the centre-half clearly makes late contact with Bajrami’s legs before he started pulling his shirt, and that is what John Beaton blew for:
No penalty.
Scales is penalised for the first foul.
The shirt-pulling is the second infringement.
— Paul John Dykes (@PaulJohnDykes) December 16, 2024
Once more and more people comprehend what the foul was actually given for, we can finally move on from the tiring narrative that a poor decision cost Rangers the final. Pehrpaps Philippe Clement’s phone will die down, too.
