Rangers v Celtic controversy: Pundit rages over inconsistency from VAR, suggests IFAB potential rule change
We’re delighted to welcome Tam McManus as our exclusive Rangers columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Ibrox…
Tam McManus admits he thought Connor Goldson’s handball should’ve led to a Celtic penalty kick against Rangers on Monday (2 January).
However, he says that he can after seeing IFAB laws and hearing what former referees had to say, he can understand why the spot-kick wasn’t awarded.
But McManus isn’t pleased with the inconsistency from referees and from VARs because he’s seen penalties given for similar incidents when a ball had hit a player who has his arms up protecting his face.
“When you first see it, I thought initially that it was a stonewall penalty kick,” McManus told Ibrox News.
“I think when you have your hands up high like that, I’m surprised the referee didn’t go to the monitor to look at it.
“Obviously, there’s been a lot of conjecture, ex-referees looking at it, IFAB rules and regulations coming out and it turns out that by the letter of the law, it wasn’t a penalty.“
McManus did add, however, that he thinks the laws of the game should maybe be changed in order to curb the inconsistencies creeping into the game over handbells.
He added: “I think when your hands go up like that, it’s got to be a penalty kick. You see them given every week.
“It’s so inconsistent now at the minute, to not give that and see them being given elsewhere for having their arms up is frustrating for supporters.
“VAR is so inconsistent with handbells.”
VAR issues are starting to dominate Scottish football in the same way they did in the English Premier League a few years back when it arrived there.
Introducing VAR midway through a season was a ridiculous move by the SFA and SPFL, meaning referees had to adjust from one form of officiating to another almost overnight.
It’s led to some weird decisions but the decision to not award Celtic a penalty in the 2-2 Old Firm draw at Ibrox on Monday was the correct one, as IFAB laws show.
In other Rangers news, the Gers want to sign this South American ace who’s playing in Europe.