Jump directly to the content

KRIS BOYD has urged new Rangers chiefs Patrick Stewart and Fraser Thornton to demand SFA showdown talks over the cup final penalty row.

Rangers legend Boydy insists fans want answers over the Hampden flashpoint when Liam Scales tugged Vaclav Cerny’s shirt.

Liam Scales fouls Vaclav Cerny during a soccer game.
6
Liam Scales hauled Vaclav Cerny's shirtCredit: Willie Vass
Liam Scales receives a yellow card for a foul on Vaclav Cerny near the penalty area during a Celtic v Rangers soccer match.
6
The holding appeared to continue into the penalty area
Rangers manager Philippe Clement at Hampden Park.
6
Philippe Clement was angered by the decision not to give a penaltyCredit: Alamy
Kris Boyd at a Hibernian vs. Heart of Midlothian football match.
6
Kris Boyd reckons it was a certain penaltyCredit: SNS

Gers boss Philippe Clement was raging VAR Alan Muir didn’t correct ref John Beaton’s decision to award a free-kick for the foul.

Now Boyd wants chief executive Stewart and chairman Thornton - who both started work at Ibrox on Monday - to seek answers.

Speaking on SunSport’s Go Ballistic show, Boyd said: “It’s a penalty. It doesn’t matter where you start pulling the shirt, it’s where you let go. The player is in the box.

“People can have a go at John Beaton but I thought he refereed the game very well. From where he was, he felt as if it was a foul.

READ MORE FOOTBALL

“The issue here is that VAR has let John Beaton down. Alan Muir was the VAR and Frank Connor was the assistant VAR. What were they doing?

“There is really no excuse. You have the video there and you should see it. There is no reason for them to miss this. The pull of the shirt finishes inside the box.

“John Beaton has missed it on the field, which I can totally understand. But for two people to miss it on a screen is not good enough.

“It’s time to stand up and ask questions.

“If I am Patrick Stewart or Fraser Thornton, who started at Rangers on Monday, the first thing I’m doing is demanding a meeting with the SFA, with Willie Collum and Ian Maxwell.

“They are going to have to lead Rangers. The time is now to be asking questions. There’s no getting away from it.

Moment Celtic & Rangers ultras brawl & lob flares during violent street battle ahead of cup final

“Rangers fans will want Patrick Stewart to ask the question.

“The SFA provide the match officials and I’d want to get to the bottom of why the VAR didn’t intervene - because it’s not good enough.

“Willie has been out there and transparent. I’d want to get to the bottom of this. They need to get to the bottom of why the penalty wasn’t given.”

SunSport understands Gers chiefs are considering whether to take the matter further.

The SFA are likely to go public in their weekly Key Match Incident Review Panel Outcome bulletin this Friday.

Refs’ chief Collum will also discuss the flashpoint in The VAR Review online show.

But Boyd says Gers fans want answers now - and reckons the days when opposing supporters quipped about ‘Penalty to Rangers’ have now turned full circle.

He added: “A few months, it was a laugh and a joke about Rangers always getting penalties. I wonder what people are saying now.

Read more on the Scottish Sun

“Michael Nicholson, at the Celtic AGM last year, stood up and was asked what the club would do about missed VAR decisions - and he said ‘Give a penalty to Rangers’.

“Peter Lawwell said the last penalty kick given against Rangers for handball was given away by John Greig.”

Patrick Stewart, new CEO of Rangers.
6
Patrick Stewart has started work as the new Rangers CEOCredit: PA
Willie Collum, head of refereeing, interviewed on The VAR Review.
6
Boyd reckons Stewart should demand a meeting with refs' chief Willie CollumCredit: Scottish FA

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Topics