Rangers profit from injustice as Malik Tillman footage emerges – pundit
Frank McAvennie can’t believe Rangers were awarded a penalty against Partick Thistle on Sunday (12 February).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Celtic striker claimed the incident occurred outside the box and couldn’t understand why the penalty decision was not overturned by the VAR official.
As shown on Viaplay Sports (12 February), Thistle’s Stuart Bannigan pulled down Malik Tillman who went to ground inside the box.
Referee David Munro pointed to the spot immediately and the decision was upheld by the VAR official.
James Tavernier missed the spot kick but the Gers still went on to win the game 3-2 and progress to the Scottish Cup quarter-final.
McAvennie insisted that the incident should not have resulted in a penalty.
“It was outside the box,” he told Football Insider.
“It was a pull, he never kicked him or anything like that. The referee made a decision and he got it completely wrong. He could not wait to point to the spot.
“I thought VAR was going to sort it out and then they did not. VAR must have seen that it was outside the box. The tug on his arm was outside the box. He went down like a sack of spuds.
“It is a part of the game that I am not happy with at the moment, people are trying to do it all the time. He should have booked him because that will stop people doing it.
“They are just encouraging him by giving him a penalty because it was not a penalty, that was clear and obvious.
“I can guarantee that if it had happened at the other end of the pitch it would not have been a penalty. That is just a fact.
“I felt sorry for Thistle, they definitely deserved more from the game.“
In other news, a pundit has said Nicolas Raskin ‘doesn’t have a clue’ about Rangers after Celtic claim.