Michael Beale rues VAR decisions as Rangers lose to Celtic in derby

Rangers manager Michael Beale believes match officials and VAR got two big calls wrong as his side lost 3-2 to Celtic in the Old Firm derby.

Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice for Celtic, with Jota adding a third for the hosts, while James Tavernier scored twice for Rangers in a thriller at Celtic Park.

Beale was pleased with his side’s efforts but felt that there were major decisions that went against his side and could have altered the result.

The first came when Rangers thought they had opened the scoring as Alfredo Morelos stabbed the ball over the line from a first half corner.

Referee Kevin Clancy disallowed the goal, ruling that Morelos had fouled Celtic defender Alistair Johnson as the cross came in.

Beale also felt that Furuhashi’s second should have been ruled out, claiming that the ball had struck Jota’s arm in the build-up.

“I thought we played well in the game,” the Rangers manager said. “Obviously two big mistakes were quite costly for us, after I thought we started the second half very well.

“I thought one or two VAR decisions were harsh on us.

“If you look at Alfredo’s shirt, it is twisted around his back and I don’t think their player is trying to play the ball, only one player is trying to play the ball.

“There’s a lot going on with the two players but why pick on ours at the moment?

“Kevin sees it there and then. I asked him if it was for a foul on Joe Hart and he said it was for a foul by Alfredo, that’s what I am disappointed with.

“The guys in the (VAR) studio are watching it back, all I would ask is if you look at the number on Alfredo’s shirt, who is pulling who?

“One is trying to play the ball, the other isn’t. It was a big decision in the game.”

On Celtic’s second goal, Beale said: “Ben Davies makes a mistake with the clearance up in the air and heading against Jota, but it hits his arm. I know it’s not outside his body, but to not get one of the two is harsh.

“Going back to the game, the two mistakes that cost us are not the only mistakes, we had chances up the other end when we could have been more decisive.

“I thought my team played well throughout and probably deserved a bit more.”