Exclusive: Callum McGregor lucky to escape Hagi’s Rangers shout v Celtic – Ex-ref
Callum McGregor was fortunate to get away without conceding a potential match-winning penalty to Ianis Hagi in Celtic’s 1-1 draw at Rangers, according to Keith Hackett.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that he believes there is precedence for such incidents to lead to spot kicks being awarded.
Hagi recently denied claims he is looking to leave Rangers in the summer, although he is still due to be out of contract in the summer as things stand.
Meanwhile, his side have been comfortably beaten to the Scottish Premiership title by their Old Firm rivals this season.
Even so, Rangers have enjoyed some memorable wins over Celtic in games between the two during the current campaign, though Hagi was unable to get them the chance to claim another one here.
Callum McGregor survives late penalty scare
After Cyriel Dessers had given Rangers the lead on the stroke of half time, Adam Idah would equalise for Celtic just before the hour mark at Ibrox on Sunday (4 May).
With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Hagi then felt he should have been given a potential match-winning penalty.
After a shot from Nico Raskin was parried to Hagi inside the Celtic area by opposition goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, the Romainian was unable to get a shot away after he was backed into by Hoops captain McGregor.
The Rangers man instead went to ground but was unable to convince either referee Nick Walsh to award a spot kick, with VAR confirming that decision.
Now though, Hackett has suggested that on another day, the midfielder could have won a penalty for his side.
| Position | Played | Points |
| 1. Celtic (C) | 35 | 85 |
| 2. Rangers | 35 | 68 |
Rangers penalty claim vs Celtic assessed
After being asked by Football Insider whether he felt that challenge on Hagi could have led to a penalty, Hackett said:
“The Celtic player’s put everything into him. It’s untidy. It’s one of them where it’s the judgement of the referee on the park on the day. I have seen them given.
“Because I think the Celtic player doesn’t make, really, much attempt to go for the ball. His aim is to play, if you like, knock the player out of the way, and I think he’s achieved that and got away with it.
“I think they’re fortunate not to have had a penalty kick. I would have liked to have seen that gone to VAR review.
“There’s no sitting on the fence in Scotland when it comes to this game. I think in fairness from a refereeing point of view, with an element of doubt in that challenge, they’re going to only award what they consider a nailed on penalty kick.
“They’re taking the view there’s contact in the game, those things happen, it’s not an offence and we’re not going to come in and I think in a way it’s safety first refereeing.
“They try and avoid the big controversial decisions. Either way, you give or you don’t give, and had that been given there would have been a lot of controversy around it because it’s subjective.”