By Frank McAvennie

29th Sep, 2023 | 12:00pm

Pundit slams 'ridiculous' VAR as Rangers footage re-analysed

VAR blamed for allowing Abdallah Sima’s ‘ridiculous’ goal for Rangers against Livingston to stand.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie slammed the lack of consistency in refereeing decision in Scotland.

As shown on Viaplay Sports (27 September), Abdallah Sima opened the scoring at Ibrox with a right-footed strike but appeared to push Livi’s Jamie Brandon to the ground in the lead up to the goal.

Referee Willie Collum allowed the goal to stand and Nick Walsh in the VAR room did not instruct the onfield official to rewatch the incident.

But, as seen in footage shared by the SPFL (24 September), Walsh disallowed at St Mirren goal in their game against Hearts last weekend for a similar incident.

Mikael Mandron though he had doubled the Saints’ lead but Walsh disallowed the goal after the striker was adjudged to have fouled Hearts’ Frankie Kent.

McAvennie is getting fed up with the officials in this country.

“They have not got any consistency it is pathetic, just ridiculous,” he told Football Insider.

“All the referees should be singing from the same hymn sheet, they should be talking to each other. Get the referees together and tell them they can’t give a foul one day and not the next day.

“I would love the referees to just talk and explain their decision.

“That incident changed the game and it does not matter if it was Celtic, Rangers or whoever I would be saying the same.“

In other news, Kieran Maguire drops £34m Rangers reveal after big Celtic development.