Andy Halliday dismisses major Rangers F.C. complaint but criticises ‘serious’ VAR controversy after Celtic F.C. incident

Andy Halliday has defended under-fire referee Nick Walsh following the latest Old Firm controversy, insisting that many of Rangers F.C.’ frustrations should instead be directed towards the VAR team after their damaging 3-1 defeat to Celtic F.C. at Parkhead.

The former Rangers midfielder, now a pundit while playing for Motherwell F.C., weighed in on several contentious moments from the match after furious Rangers supporters criticised Walsh over a string of major decisions during the derby clash.

One of the biggest talking points came after Celtic’s equaliser, when South Korean winger Yang Hyun-jun fired home from close range after a dangerous delivery across the box from Arne Engels. However, the goal immediately came under scrutiny as VAR official John Beaton reviewed whether offside attacker Benjamin Nygren had obstructed goalkeeper Jack Butland’s vision.

Under IFAB’s offside laws, a player can be penalised if they clearly block the goalkeeper’s line of sight while in an offside position, and Rangers players were convinced the goal would be ruled out. But after a lengthy check, VAR decided there was not enough evidence to overturn Walsh’s original decision, allowing the goal to stand despite fierce protests from the away side.

Halliday admitted the incident was contentious but ultimately agreed with the officials’ verdict, arguing that Butland appeared to have a clear enough view of the shot despite Nygren’s positioning.

Speaking on BBC Sport’s Sportscene programme, Halliday explained that freeze-frame replays suggested the Rangers goalkeeper could still see the ball around Nygren’s shoulder. He also acknowledged that many supporters felt Butland would not have saved the effort regardless, though he stressed that the laws of the game focus specifically on whether the goalkeeper’s vision is obstructed rather than the likelihood of making the save.

While Halliday backed the decision to award Celtic’s goal, he was far more critical of another major flashpoint involving Alistair Johnston. The Celtic defender avoided a red card after catching Rangers youngster Mikey Moore high on the leg with a challenge that many believed crossed the line.

Halliday admitted he did not initially think the challenge even warranted a foul in real time, but argued that VAR should have intervened after reviewing the footage from multiple angles. He pointed to similar incidents earlier in the season involving Amar Fatah and Jake Young, where players had been sent off for making contact above the ankle with their studs.

According to Halliday, the real issue was not Walsh failing to spot the seriousness of the tackle during live play, but the VAR officials failing to upgrade the punishment after reviewing the incident. He described that aspect as a “severe” problem and admitted he was stunned that Johnston remained on the pitch.

The defeat piled even more pressure on Danny Rohl after Rangers slipped to a third consecutive defeat and were condemned to a third-place finish. Supporters have increasingly questioned whether the German should remain in charge beyond the end of the season, with some now openly calling for a managerial change.

Despite the growing unrest, Halliday said he still believes Rohl will remain Rangers manager next season, although he acknowledged that many fans fear they are witnessing a repeat of the same problems that have haunted the club over recent years. He added that opinions among the Rangers support are now completely divided as uncertainty continues to surround the club’s future direction.