Ally McCoist has called for VAR to be scrapped in the Scottish Premiership after Rangers were denied a late decision in their 2-2 draw with Livingston.
Rangers fought back from two goals down to earn a point, but the major talking point came in stoppage time when Mikey Moore burst through on goal. The Tottenham loanee appeared to be taken down by the last defender just as he prepared to shoot, yet no foul was awarded.
VAR reviewed the incident but declined to intervene, reportedly judging the contact to have occurred outside the penalty area and not constituting a denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity. Replays, however, suggested strong grounds for at least a free-kick — and potentially more.
McCoist did not hold back in his criticism of the system.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the Rangers legend said:
“The people on VAR, they’re just inept. They’re just not good. We need to get rid of it. We have to get rid of VAR because they’re embarrassing themselves. The decision at Livingston in the last minute, it’s absolutely outrageous. The referee is five yards away; it’s a penalty.”
VAR has been a frequent source of controversy in the Scottish Premiership this season, but this latest flashpoint has intensified debate. Rangers supporters argue that the decision cost their side a crucial opportunity to claim all three points — points that would have narrowed the gap to league leaders Hearts.
With the title race tightening and every result magnified, dropped points — regardless of the cause — could ultimately prove decisive. Refereeing chief Willie Collum already faces scrutiny over officiating standards, and this latest incident has only added to the pressure.
For McCoist, though, the solution is simple: if VAR cannot consistently correct clear errors, it should not be part of the game at all.
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