Ally McCoist has 'problem' with VAR after Rangers vs Celtic penalty decision as he spots way to bring clarity
Rangers and Celtic came to blows at the weekend on Premiership business.
Ally McCoist has been left disappointed in the handball rule after Celtic were awarded a late penalty against Rangers.
The latest Old Firm in the Premiership ended 2-2 at Ibrox after Danny Rohl’s side let a two goal lead slip at home against their arch rivals. Youssef Chermiti’s double put Rangers in a commanding lead before Kieran Tierney halved the deficit and Reo Hatate bundled home an effort after Jack Butland saved his initial penalty attempt.
An opportunity from 12 yards came after a cross into the box was headed onto the arm of Dujon Sterling by Hoops attacker Daizen Maeda. Rangers icon McCoist isn’t sure what the Light Blues defender was supposed to have done but insists the wording of the handball law must change to make clear intentional handballs are what get penalised.
Ally McCoist on Rangers penalty handball vs Celtic
He told talkSPORT: “Well, it's definitely handball. I'm not sure what Sterling is meant to do. You know, I've got no idea. People saying it prevented it getting into the goal. I think the goalkeeper's there as well, but, listen, there is no argument it hits his hand. I've got an unbelievable amount of sympathy for him because, effectively, he's been given a penalty against him for somebody heading the ball off his hand.
“He's no idea. His hand is in a natural, not unnatural, his hand is in a natural position for the way he is trying to close the player down. You don't run about with your hands to your side. I can understand why they gave it but I just thought it was extremely harsh on Sterling because he knew nothing about it.
“I think we're going to have to at some point bring in the word intentional use of the hand. Do you know what I mean? We're going to have to bring that in because some of the handballs, the guys just don't have a clue. You know, even guys having shots with their arms at their side and you see someone giving a penalty and things like that. It's just... it's really, really poor.
What is IFAB law on handball
“The first thing I would say is I think a draw was probably a fair result. Although I've got a little bit of a problem with and I feel a little bit sorry for Sterling, because he doesn't know anything about it, I think a draw was probably a fair result with both teams dominating one half.”
IFAB state on the handball rule: “For the purposes of determining handball offences, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence. It is an offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball.
“Touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised.”