The Old Firm derby got off to a controversial start when Kemar Roofe’s 28th-minute strike was ruled out by referee Don Robertson after he deemed that Gustaf Lagerbielke had been tripped by Cyriel Dessers in the build-up. Robertson was told to check his pitchside monitor by VAR before making his final decision, and there was confusion in the home end as he made the call.
A loud cheer rang around Ibrox when Robertson pointed to signal his decision – with home fans thinking a goal had been given – only for the official to reveal that the goal wouldn’t count. Chris Sutton on commentary then quipped: “You never hear Rangers fans cheer like that.”
The referee’s decision would come under immediate scrutiny with many former players and pundits labelling it a ‘soft call’. “To me, Lagerbielke just doesn’t look strong enough. I really don’t see a foul here,” said former Scotland international Pat Nevin on BBC 5 Live. “There’s not a Rangers fan in here that will think that’s a foul.”
Former Rangers winger Neil McCann added: “Wow, wow, wow. That’s not a free-kick for me. Lagerbielke has kicked Dessers!”
Meanwhile, BBC Scotland’s Martin Dowden wrote: “That moment is going to be the talk of the town tonight. There’s contact but is it a foul? It is an incredible let-off for Celtic and Lagerbiekle in particular.”
Tom English speaking on Sports Sound gave a more detailed analysis of the tangle: “I’ve watched it multiple times…What I think I see is Dessers’ right foot stands on Lagerbielke’s right foot, then, Lagerbielke’s left foot kicking Dessers and Lagerbielke goes down.
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“Did Desser’s right foot definitely stand on Lagerbielke? Is it clear and obvious?” Brendan Rogers’ men would go on to add salt to their fierce rival’s wounds when Kyogo Furuhashi blazed home an audacious effort from outside the box to give the Hoops the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Celtic will be hoping to exact revenge on Rangers after falling to a heavy 3-0 defeat the last time they met back in May at Ibrox.
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