Aiden McGeady believes Rangers’ goalkeeper Jack Butland was flirting with a red card during the Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic. The controversial moment at the end of regular time overshadowed the match, as Liam Scales was deemed to have fouled Vaclav Cerny on the edge of the box, leading to a free-kick for Rangers. However, replays suggested it should have been a penalty for Celtic.
Rangers’ manager was left fuming after his team suffered a defeat in the penalty shootout. McGeady, on the other hand, turned the tables in favor of Celtic. The former Hoops’ hero pointed out an incident involving Butland during extra time. As Butland raced to collect a long ball, he seemed to be just outside the box when he made the save. McGeady compared this moment to the penalty controversy, suggesting it was a tight call that could have been reviewed.
If the VAR team had intervened, referee John Beaton would have faced a crucial decision regarding Butland’s actions. According to IFAB rules, a goalkeeper who denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity could receive a red card. However, if the goalkeeper prevents a promising attack, they are likely to be shown a yellow card instead. With Maeda potentially advancing towards goal, this incident could have had a significant impact on the outcome of the game.
