Breaking News:Rangers and Celtic forced into spend by SPFL as ‘two-tier system of justice’ blasted

Breaking News:Rangers and Celtic forced into spend by SPFL as ‘two-tier system of justice’ blasted

Rangers and Celtic were forced to fork out for VAR over the weekend while other clubs in the Scottish League Cup opted out, Hugh Keevins has seethed.

 

As Keevins reported on page 68 of the Sunday Mail [22 September], quarter-final ties across the competition over the weekend offered clubs the option of spending on VAR – understandably not taken by other competitors.

The two Old Firm clubs were however obliged to spend £16,000 each, simply due to the fact Rangers’ tie with Dundee and Celtic’s with Falkirk were shown live on Premier Sports.

 

Keevins described the move from the SPFL as a “two-tier system of justice through financial manoeuvring”.

 

Rangers forced to implement VAR v Dundee

In the recent move by the SPFL, sponsorship will certainly have played a part with Premier Sports partnering with the League Cup, of which Rangers are currently the holders and now semi-finalists after Saturday night’s 3-0 win at Ibrox

That the channel then broadcast the Gers’ victory and will show Celtic’s quarter-final tie with Falkirk on Sunday afternoon demonstrates a desire to look as polished as possible by enforcing their preferred system of implementing VAR at their cup matches.

 

The video system was then not called upon when Cyriel Dessers appeared to be hauled down in the Dundee box by Mohamed Sylla – the striker was ultimately booked for his protests.

This is a decision taken out of the clubs’ hands and has then demanded their wallets upfront – it certainly gives the Glasgow giants a reason to complain.

 

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Away from that controversy, Philippe Clement will be mightily relieved to secure back-to-back wins in all competitions and avoid the Dundee-shaped banana skin to enter the hat for the last four.