Scottish Cup final controversy as VAR intervenes to cancel out Rangers goal against Celtic

Scottish Cup final controversy as VAR intervenes to cancel out Rangers goal against Celtic

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 25/05/2024

- 16:30

Updated: 25/05/2024

- 17:05

Rangers thought they had taken the lead in the second half of the Scottish Cup final against Celtic through Abdallah Sima.

Rangers have been left furious after Abdallah Sima's goal in the Scottish Cup final was cancelled out after a review from VAR.

There wasn't much goalmouth action in the first half as neither side wanted to give anything away.


But the game opened up after the break and it was Rangers who had the ball in the back of the net first.

James Tavernier's corner caused havoc in the box with Sima managing to tap in from close range.

Abdallah Sima had the ball in the back of the net

Abdallah Sima had the ball in the back of the net

GETTY

However, Joe Hart complained of a push and VAR told referee Nick Walsh to take a look at the footage.

Replays showed that Nicolas Raskin did shove Hart out of the way before Sima tapped in.

It wasn't clear whether Hart would have been able to get to the ball either way, but the referee decided it was enough to disallow Rangers' goal.

Former Scottish referee Bobby Madden agreed with the decision from Walsh to cancel out Rangers' goal.

He said on BBC: "You see evidence here, it's a push.

"You can argue all day that the goalkeeper should be stronger but it is a push.

"Correctly disallowed. No goal."

Hart was initially shown a yellow card for his protests to Walsh about the shove.

Joe Hart was initially booked for pleading to the referee

Joe Hart was initially booked for pleading to the referee

REUTERS

But the caution was rescinded after he disallowed the goal with the game once again level.

The Scottish Cup final is Hart's final game before retiring after announcing earlier this year he would be hanging up his gloves at the end of the season.

The former Manchester City and England striker joined Celtic in 2021 and has helped them win three consecutive titles.

Joe Hart will retire after the Scottish Cup final

Joe Hart will retire after the Scottish Cup final

REUTERS

Hart explained that he wanted to go out on his own terms as opposed to being replaced or needing to look for another team.

He said: "I looked at what age I'm going to be, I'm aware of all the stresses I have put myself through body-wise all through my career.

"I didn't really want to wait and be told. And with the cycle of the three years I have managed to do here, I wasn't interested in playing anywhere else. It just felt right.

"I felt like I know and I wanted the club to know because I have a lot of love and respect for this club and I want the club to move forward to bigger and better things.

"No one needs the speculation of whether a regular starter is going to be offered a contract, sign a contract, whether he is looking elsewhere. That's a needless narrative when all of us are on the same page so I thought it was important to address it."

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