Qudus SalihuIn a sensational interview that has ignited a firestorm across Scottish football, former top-flight official Mike Dean has rubbished a critical VAR decision from Rangers’ 2-1 defeat to Hearts, claiming the Ibrox club has been “cheated” out of a fair result. Speaking on the Up Front podcast, Dean didn’t hold back, making a brutally honest admission about the performance of on-field referee Nick Walsh.
The controversy centers on a late penalty claim for Rangers when Youssef Chermiti appeared to be hauled down inside the box. Despite clear contact, Walsh waved play away, and the VAR—led by Andrew Dallas—opted not to intervene. Dean, known for his filter-free post-retirement analysis, labeled the lack of a review “inexcusable.”
”I’ve looked at the footage from three different angles, and for Nick Walsh to not even be sent to the monitor is a disgrace,” Dean fumed. “Rangers have been cheated here. It’s a stonewall penalty. I know Nick well, he’s a top official, but he’s had a shocker at Tynecastle. He was completely lost in the noise of the crowd.”
In an eye-opening admission, Dean suggested that the current crop of officials, including Walsh, are often “paralyzed” by the fear of making a high-profile mistake at grounds like Tynecastle. “Nick is my mate, but I have to be honest—he’s let the occasion get to him. By the time VAR should have stepped in, the game had moved on, and they’ve bottled the big call to protect the ‘flow’ of the match. It’s a dereliction of duty.”
The fans are going wild on social media, with Rangers supporters echoing Dean’s “cheated” sentiment and calling for a formal explanation from the SFA. With the loss leaving Danny Röhl’s side 12 points adrift of Derek McInnes’ Hearts, the fallout from Walsh’s display and Dean’s explosive commentary is set to dominate the headlines for weeks. For the Ibrox faithful, Dean’s honesty confirms what they felt at the final whistle: that a massive injustice has cost them their title hopes.
Qudus Salihu
Rabiu Aminu
Mustapha Sheidu