![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767019148_59_0_Livingston-v-Celtic-William-Hill-Premiership.jpg\")
Dan Finlayson was penalised for handball(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\nScott McDermott answers your calls as regulars claim the big two are both benefiting from favourable decisionsDan Finlayson was penalised for handball(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n
Christmas might be over but the panto season is still in full swing when it comes to Scottish football.<\/p>\n
It was a penalty. Oh no it wasn\u2019t. Oh yes it was.<\/p>\n
One thing\u2019s for sure, SPFL refs are the villains especially on the Old Firm stage.<\/p>\n
Celtic<\/a> fans and others are convinced Rangers<\/a> got away with one against Motherwell on Saturday when David Dickinson and VAR didn\u2019t punish Emmanuel Fernandez for a late challenge on Lukas Fadinger in the box.<\/p>\n While the Gers supporters couldn’t believe their Glasgow rivals got a spot kick at Livingston after Daizen Maeda<\/a> appeared to push Daniel Finlayson before the ball struck his hand.<\/p>\n The season of goodwill? Not on the Record Hotline.<\/p>\n First up, Willie Mercer, Dumfries said: \u201cOnce again the match officials contrive to rewrite the rules.<\/p>\n \u201cSurely handball in the area must take into account the build-up to the incident?<\/p>\n \u201cNick Walsh on VAR totally ignored the Maeda push which was a huge factor at Livingston.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll no doubt get the usual mumbled apology from Wilie Colllum<\/a> but how often do we need to suffer the incompetence of him and his officials?\u201d<\/p>\n Chris Lowe, Yoker , said: \u201cOnce again Matthew McDiarmid gifts Celtic a game-changing decision with a shocker of a penalty – every bit as bad as the one they got at Kilmarnock.<\/p>\n \u201cThe integrity of the game is in question under Collum\u2019s watch.”<\/p>\n Scott Gowers, Edinburgh said: \u201cEven Celtic fans know their penalty at Livingston was unjustified.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve asked several of them if they\u2019d be happy if it had gone against them and 100 percent of them said they\u2019d want a foul.<\/p>\n \u201cThat tells its own story about the officials in Scotland.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think Rangers – or any other team – would have been given a penalty in those circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n Now on to Ibrox where Motherwell gaffer Jens Berthel Askou said he\u2019d take Dickinson\u2019s decision to his grave.<\/p>\n Scott McAdam, Glasgow said: \u201cYet another penalty not awarded for the away team at Ibrox – that\u2019s three games in a row a club has been robbed.<\/p>\n \u201cHardly a coincidence is it? Rangers fans aren\u2019t greetin about refs now are they?\u201d<\/p>\n Harry Fitzpatrick, Ontario said: \u201cWhen is something going to be done about this?<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s about four incidents with the same player (Fernandez) in the past month or so.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it just my paranoia kicking in? Rangers continually harassed the SFA with complaints after the semi-final against Celtic and since then they\u2019ve had about five penalty decisions go in their favour. It\u2019s getting embarrassing now.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrew Welsh, Glasgow said: \u201cLet\u2019s be honest, since Rangers got upset about the challenge on Jack Butland at Hampden, every penalty decision has gone for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Henry Moffat, Stirling said: \u201cRangers fans can deflect all they want but the rest of Scottish football knows what\u2019s going on here.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s disgraceful and corrupt use of VAR with match changing decisions in the space of a few weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cEnough is enough, an investigation is needed.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Rangers-v-Motherwell-William-Hill-Premiership.jpg\")
(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n
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(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n