The Rangers' 3-1 League Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic has sparked debate over the officials' decisions. While Danny Rohl, the Rangers' head coach, refused to blame the officials, many are questioning if the Rangers were hard done by. The game saw Thelo Aasgaard sent off for Celtic, but there were controversial incidents involving Celtic centre-half Auston Trusty and right-back Anthony Ralston that some feel should have resulted in red cards. Trusty caught Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland on the head with an errant boot, and Ralston handled the ball while already on a yellow card, conceding a penalty. Former Scotland strikers Billy Dodds and James McFadden both thought Trusty was fortunate to only be yellow-carded, and Dodds also believed Ralston should have been sent off for the handball. Despite the loss, Rohl sees positive signs in his team's reaction and performance, and believes they are on the right track for future success. However, problems remain for the Rangers as they host Roma and trail 14 points behind Premiership leaders Hearts and five adrift of Celtic. The team's on-loan centre-back, Nasser Djiga, was constantly exposed at Hampden, and the £8m striker, Youssef Chermiti, again failed to impress. The debate over the officials' decisions and the team's performance continues, with many questioning if the Rangers were hard done by. The Rangers' fans and experts are divided on the issue, with some feeling the officials got it right and others believing the Rangers were the victims of some questionable calls. As the debate rages on, the Rangers must now focus on their upcoming matches and look to close the gap on the Premiership leaders.
