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Philippe Clement in Rangers penalty rage as Ibrox boss reveals his phone exploded over 'weird' VAR snub
Raging Rangers boss Philippe Clement blasted VAR Alan Muir for not sending referee John Beaton to the monitor to review a penalty he insists should have been given.
Clement watched on at Hampden as his side suffered a painful penalty shootout defeat to Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final. The Belgian admitted he was baffled that Beaton wasn’t at least asked to check a pull by Hoops substitute Liam Scales on Vaclav Cerny as he attempted to make his way into the box early in extra time of the pulsating cup final.
Celtic went on to win 5-4 on spot kicks after they had shared six goals after 120 minutes and seething. Speaking to the media in his post match press conference, seething Clement said: “I don't know if you saw the images back, but my phone is overloaded with the penalty situation with Cerny. I get hundreds of messages now about that. That's also a really decisive moment in the game.
“Of course, he (the referee) cannot see that moment. But he didn't get the communication from the VAR to come to watch the screen, which for me is a really weird situation. At least there's no look about that kind of situation in this kind of game, about the situation that the referee can make a decision in that way.
“I didn't see it at the time because I still have quite good eyes, but I cannot see that much distance if the foot is outside or inside or on the line.
"So no, but my phone is full of messages from everybody. I don't know. So those are things I cannot control.
“I know that all of you like to dig deep into things. So maybe it's also a very important moment to dig into that, about why there's no communication in that moment about a big decision like that, because it's clear for everybody it's a game-decisive decision. I hope that you guys really dig in to things. I hope.”
Nedim Bajrami netted a first half opener to have the blue half of Hampden dreaming of cup glory but Greg Taylor’s deflected strike and Daizen Maeda’s goal in four second half minutes turned a dramatic game on its head before Mohamed Diomande levelled. Nicolas Kuhn then thought he had won it with a goal three minutes from the end but Rangers substitute Danilo headed home a leveller at the death to force extra time before the pain of penalties.
Ridvan Yilmaz was the sinner for the Light Blues as Kasper Schmeichel kept out his effort while Jack Butland also converted his spot kick. On picking up Yilmaz and his spot kick choices, Clement said: "I spoke already with Ridvan. There are a lot of big names in football who are big stars in world football, who missed penalties or even didn't put the ball on target. So he took his responsibility.
“We've been practising the penalties all season. He did really well in that way, in the trainings. So it's part of football and I'm proud of guys who take responsibility in those moments. So that's part of being a football player.
“Everybody's been giving penalties all season and Jack has been doing that really well. I would not do it, of course, in a normal game because you can get a counter-attack. But we looked at who did best in this series and we had a few others who did really well.
“Football can be amazing great and amazing fun. It can be very cruel. This was a really cruel one. My team deserved more today, creating more chances than the opponent. Coming back in a good way and losing with penalties at the end, it stays a casino game at that moment.”
While leading 1-0, Rangers had a breakaway moment with a four on one situation and Clement admitted of that moment: “It’s a massive one and that's a really disappointing one that we made the wrong choice there because on the left side we had two players free.
“If Hamza (Igamane|) slows down his tempo and then gives this ball, then it's impossible to defend.
"So that's also for sure a crucial point in the game but we grabbed a lot of moments in this game.
“We're going to show that one also to the team to make it better for the future. But I'm really proud about how many moments the team grabbed and how they played with and without the ball.
“We're getting better and better and that's our ambition now. It's a big blow not to have this trophy, clearly, but it's now important that it doesn't stop the hunger and desire that's in the squad to become better and better because we're going to work on that.
“We're on the wrong end today. It's about digging in, and keeping on working to become better and better the next couple of months. You see also that the fans, in all the disappointment of not getting this trophy, still applauded the players because they see what they are giving for the club and that's what they need to continue doing and then good times will come back.”
But Liam Scales didn't agree with the irked boss. Hoops defender Scales responded to Clement’s claim and insisted he wasn’t worried he’d conceded a spot kick. The Ireland star said: “A penalty? I haven’t seen it back bit he’s pressed me from my blind side and I thought it was a free-kick.
“I haven’t seen it back so I don’t know how close to the line I am or whatever. It didn’t seem to be delayed to go to VAR. I knew I fouled him, I knew it was a yellow card for the tackle but it didn’t even come into my head that it was a penalty. I thought it was on the edge of the box. I’d need to watch it back."
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