Lukasz Zaluska delivers verdict on ‘strange’ decisions in crucial Rangers match
By James Black
Former Celtic keeper Lukasz Zaluska has claimed his side were on the wrong end of several “strange” refereeing decisions when playing Rangers at Ibrox nine years ago.
Zaluska, who was with Dundee United at the time, claims that referee Mike McCurry made several wrong decisions in the game between Rangers and United in 2008.
The Gers won the crucial league match 3-1 after United had a goal disallowed for offside and saw a penalty claim waved away.
The win kept Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League table although they would eventually lose the title to Celtic after being forced to play four times in eight days – including a UEFA Cup final – while the Hoops refused to move the final round of fixtures back due to a “tour of Japan” that is still to take place nine years later.
“That was something strange,” Zaluska told Celtic fan’s podcast Glasgow is Green, as quoted by The Scotsman website.
“It was such an important game for who was going to win the title. We scored a goal from distance and referee gave it as offside.
“There were a lot of things in this game that were strange. I don’t know why, to be honest.
“Dundee United are not the biggest team in Scotland.
“Referees, if it was 50-50 between Rangers and Dundee United, they will give it to Rangers.
“That was strange because we had a great opportunity to win at Ibrox. I remember after the game the whole dressing room was angry.”
Zaluska joined Celtic the following year and was embroiled in controversy after being assaulted by former Dundee United team-mate Paul Paton after saying he wanted to “kill all Rangers fans.”
Paton would later be fined £500 over the incident.
The Pole left Celtic in 2015 after making only 50 appearances over six years as he played second fiddle to Artur Boruc, Fraser Foster and Craig Gordon at Parkhead.
During his time at Celtic he did see his side win four Scottish titles, two Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup.
In other Celtic news, the Hoops deployed their scouts to this crucial international fixture.
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