League Cup final VAR duo stood down from weekend fixture list after Rangers ask SFA for explanation over controversial decision not to award penalty for Scales foul
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Under-fire VAR duo Alan Muir and Frank Connor have been omitted from this weekend’s match list after failing to tell League Cup final referee John Beaton to award a penalty against Celtic defender Liam Scales. The Irishman’s foul on Rangers’ winger Vaclav Cerny early in extra time was judged by Beaton to have taken place outside the box, with a free-kick and a yellow card the only sanctions.
![[Philippe Clement admitted after the final that he was bewildered by the decision]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/19/93246289-0-image-a-41_1734463649043.jpg)
While there were no complaints at the time, television replays showed that the infringement was just inside the area - a matter that should have resulted in one of the VAR officials instructing the ref to give a penalty. Having twice come from behind to make the score 3-3 in regulation time, defending champions Rangers went on to lose the cup 5-4 on penalties.
![[New Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart asked the SFA for an explanation on Monday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/19/93244895-0-image-a-42_1734463670458.jpg)
Manager Philippe Clement said he had been inundated with text messages telling him his side should have had a spot-kick. Celtic defender Liam Scales pulls down Vaclav Cerny at the edge of the penalty box. Philippe Clement admitted after the final that he was bewildered by the decision.
New Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart asked the SFA for an explanation on Monday. New Rangers chief executive officer Patrick Stewart asked the SFA for an explanation on his first official day in the job on Monday. While he has yet to receive a full answer, it’s understood that Willie Collum, the SFA’s head of referee operations, has already taken action by insisting that neither Muir, the lead VAR, nor Connor, his assistant, will be involved in games this coming weekend.
