Rangers crashed out of the Scottish League Cup yesterday afternoon with a 3-1 semi-final defeat to Old Firm rivals Celtic, losing after extra time to Martin O’Neill’s side.
Danny Röhl made three changes for the match: Connor Barron dropped out for Mohamed Diomande due to suspension, while captain James Tavernier and Thelo Aasgaard replaced Max Aarons and Mikey Moore, who both moved to the bench.
The decision to start Aasgaard proved decisive. After a quiet opening 45 minutes, he was sent off for a thigh-high challenge on Anthony Ralston with Rangers already trailing to Johnny Kenny’s near-post header.
The red card itself was correct - but the inconsistency in the decisions that followed quickly became the dominant talking point.
Celtic defender Austin Trusty was not dismissed after kicking out at Jack Butland while the Rangers goalkeeper had full control of the ball with both hands.
Daizen Maeda also remained on the pitch after a high challenge on Diomande, a foul comparable to the one that saw Aasgaard sent off.
And when Rangers were awarded a late penalty for Ralston’s handball, the Scotland full-back, already booked, was not shown a second yellow.
Once again, the lack of consistency in this fixture has become the headline, rather than the football. Tavernier questioned the decisions post-match, and ex-Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday also voiced his frustration during live coverage.
There has been no comment yet from the SFA’s Head of Referee Operations, Willie Collum. Collum hosts a monthly referee review show and is expected to examine the Trusty incident in particular, with many anticipating it will be acknowledged as an incorrect decision.
The question for Rangers supporters remains: what is actually being done to address these repeated inconsistencies?
Over the past two years Rangers have faced a series of contentious calls in Old Firm fixtures: Alfredo Morelos’ disallowed header at Celtic Park in April 2023 after minimal contact with Alistair Johnston; Kemar Roofe’s goal ruled out in August for a soft foul by Cyriel Dessers; the non-award of a penalty in December for a Johnston handball; and the decision to give only a free-kick, rather than a penalty, for a clear pull on Vaclav Çerny in last season’s League Cup final, despite the foul continuing into the box.
There have also been multiple goals disallowed: Dessers in April 2024 due to a foul several phases back, and Abdallah Sima in the 2024 Scottish Cup final for a marginal challenge on Joe Hart, with replays showing Raskin being pushed by the goalkeeper.
This is a clear pattern, that CEO Patrick Stewart and Rangers board must call out or face allowing it to carry on.
Tavernier levelled from the spot to force extra time, before goals from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand sealed Celtic’s place in the final, where they will face St Mirren, who defeated Motherwell in the other semi-final.