STEPHEN McGOWAN: SFA have to let clubs see that punishment fits the crime for incompetent refs
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Rangers have written to the SFA raising serious concerns over the standard of VAR decision-making in the Premier Sports Cup final. The governing body should write straight back demanding to know what measures the Ibrox club plan to adopt to stop Philippe Clement losing to Celtic on January 2. How they propose to prevent Jack Butland giving away daft penalties against St Mirren. Or clarifying why Dujon Sterling lost the ball for the Saints winner in the third minute of added time.
![[The penalty VAR should have called after Liam Scales pulled shirt of Vaclav Cerny]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93521657-0-image-a-4_1735315406108.jpg)
Football is a game riddled with human error. One where clubs who don’t fancy dwelling too long on their own failings rarely miss a chance to flag up the failings of VAR to get angry fans off their back. While Rangers should probably resolve their issues with the governing body privately, their latest Christmas statement does raise an awkward question for football authorities in Scotland and elsewhere.
![[Willie Collum admitted the Hampden penalty review was 'unacceptable']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93522171-0-image-a-5_1735315601916.jpg)
When the men paid to spot clear and obvious errors make a clear and obvious error of their own, how should they be punished?. No one with half a brain really thinks that officials get decisions wrong on purpose. That said, Rangers fans would still march Alan Muir, Frank Connor and the overlooked Andrew Dallas through the streets, handcuffed and wearing crowns of thorns.
![[Alan Muir made significant mistake in Motherwell-Celtic game but took control of VAR for final]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93522223-0-image-a-6_1735315691584.jpg)
Rangers wrote to SFA raising serious concerns over standard of VAR decision-making. The penalty VAR should have called after Liam Scales pulled shirt of Vaclav Cerny. Willie Collum admitted the Hampden penalty review was 'unacceptable'. While the public shaming might not improve the standard of the decision-making, it would make supporters feel a bit better about a Hampden penalty review that head of referees Willie Collum called ‘unacceptable’.
![[Cup final VAR assistant Frank Connor will run the line at Celtic v St Johnstone game]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93522235-0-image-a-7_1735315813796.jpg)
