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Old Firm Controversy: Rangers Demand Explanation for Morelos’ Disallowed Goal against Celtic

By Hikithe Achumi

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: The official Glasgow Rangers FC club badge on a home shirt on February 6, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06: The official Glasgow Rangers FC club badge on a home shirt on February 6, 2023 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) /
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Yesterday’s Old Firm derby was nothing short of heartbreak. We headed into the game with high hopes of closing the gap on table-toppers Celtic, but some controversial calls by the referee ultimately saw the game slip away from us.

Early in the first half, striker Alfredo Morelos looked like he had given us the lead when he bundled the ball into the back of the net from a corner kick.

Old Firm Derby
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – APRIL 08: Alfredo Morelos of Rangers FC scores the team’s first goal which was later disallowed after a VAR review during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Rangers FC at Celtic Park on April 08, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /

However, the referee Kevin Clancy controversially ruled that Morelos had fouled Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston in the process.

It seemed like the players were simply tangled up together while competing for the ball, rather than Morelos deliberately fouling Johnston.

Livid at the ref’s decision to chalk off Morelos’ goal, Rangers have written to the Scottish Football Association demanding an explanation for Clancy’s dodgy call according to PA news agency.

As manager Michael Beale put it,

"“There’s a lot going on with the two players but why pick on ours at the moment? One is trying to play the ball, the other isn’t.”"

Disallowed goal proves costly for Rangers in Old Firm Derby defeat

The disallowed goal proved to be a turning point in the game. Celtic went on to Clinch a 3-2 victory, extending their lead at the top of the Premiership table to a whopping 12 points over second-placed Rangers.

Saturday’s defeat was Beale’s first loss in the league since taking charge, and I’m gutted we were robbed of at least a point due to the ref’s howler.

While there’s still a long way to go in the season, dropping points in the Old Firm derby could come back to haunt us in the title race. Here’s hoping the footballing gods will be kinder to Rangers the next time we face off against our bitter rivals!

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