Clement Hits out at VAR Official After Controversial Penalty Call

Philippe Clement criticised video assistant Alan Muir for stopping working to send referee John Beaton to the pitchside screen to review a penalty claim for Rangers throughout an agonising defeat in the Premier Sports Cup last.

Speaking after his side lost on charges after a thrilling 3-3 draw, Clement claimed Rangers ought to have had a spot-kick when Liam Scales pulled back Vaclav Cerny 3 minutes into extra-time.

Video images showed that the pull continued into the penalty location, with former referee Bobby Madden taking to social media to claim that it was ‘100 per cent a penalty shot’ before expressing amazement that the VAR authorities failed to suggest another appearance.

It was a view echoed by the Rangers boss after he became the first supervisor in the post-war period to go six Old Firm games without a win. Clement claimed his side deserved more than another heartbreaking defeat to their oldest rivals.

‘Football can be amazing great and incredible fun. It can be extremely cruel. This was a truly harsh one,’ stated the Belgian. ‘I believe my team was worthy of more today, developing more possibilities than the challenger.

‘Coming back in an excellent way and losing with charges at the end, it remains a casino game at that minute. But likewise, I don’t understand if you saw the images back, however my phone is overwhelmed with the penalty scenario with Cerny.

Philippe Clement insists Liam Scales’ obstacle on Vaclav Cerny should have been examined

Clement consoles Ridvan Yilmaz after the defender missed out on a penalty in the Hampden shootout

Clement states Rangers did not deserve their heartbreaking defeat in the Premier Sports Cup final

‘I get numerous messages now about that. That’s likewise an actually decisive moment in the game.’

Asked if he had talked to Beaton after, Clement absolved the match referee of any blame.

‘Naturally, (the referee) can not see that moment,’ he said.

‘But he didn’t get the communication from the VAR to come to see the screen, which for me is a truly unusual situation.

‘I didn’t see it at the time due to the fact that I still have quite great eyes, however even then I can not see that much distance if the foot is outdoors or inside or on the line.

‘But my phone has plenty of messages from everyone. I do not know, but these are things I can not control.

‘I understand that all of you like to dig deep into things. So maybe it’s likewise an extremely essential moment to dig into that, about why there’s no communication in that moment about a huge decision like that, due to the fact that it’s clear for everyone it’s a game-decisive decision.’

The shootout defeat hurt for Rangers after they led at half-time through Nedim Bajrami, fell back early in the second half then pegged Celtic back twice through strikes from Mohamed Diomande and substitute Danilo.

Happy with his group’s powers of strength and endurance after a Thursday-night clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Clement declared they was worthy of more than another anguished defeat.

‘That’s why I would not like to be here to discuss the penalty since I wish to discuss the team, what they did today, how brave they wanted a huge European night on Thursday, giving a lot against Tottenham,’ he stated.

‘2 days less recovery and revealing the physical level they showed today. Also the team spirit, the mindset, but likewise good football. I think it was a truly great video game for Scottish football, this last, from both sides.

‘And that everybody only can be delighted about that, however naturally you wish to win that trophy. But we needed to do then a lot of things extra to get it to our side, if you don’t get a charge like that …’

Celtic protector Scales declares it never ever entered his mind that he ‘d be penalised with the award of a penalty shot.

‘I have not seen it back so I don’t understand how near the line I am or whatever,’ stated the protector. ‘It didn’t seem to be postponed to go to VAR. I understood I fouled him, I understood it was a yellow card for the deal with but it didn’t even enter into my head that it was a penalty.

‘I believed it was on the edge of the box. I ‘d need to see it back.’

Clement refused to associate any blame to Ridvan Yilmaz after the alternative left-back had his strike brilliantly conserved by Kasper Schmeichel to alter the course of the penalty shootout, Celtic scoring all 5 kicks.

‘I spoke with him,’ the Belgian said. ‘There are a great deal of huge names in football who are big stars in world football, who missed out on charges or even didn’t put the ball on target. So he took his responsibility.

‘We have actually been practicing the all season. He did really well in that method, in the trainings. So it becomes part of football and I’m happy of guys who take duty in those moments.

‘That belongs to being a footballer.

‘We’re on the wrong end today however it has to do with digging in, keep working what they have actually been doing and like this to end up being better and better the next couple of months.’