Philippe Clement baffled in Rangers clash v Motherwell. (Credit: Sky Sports Football)

Philippe Clement now faces Rangers sack after shock incident v Motherwell

Refereeing Consultant AUTHORITY Former FIFA Referee; Head of PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited). Focus: Laws of the Game, VAR implementation, officiating performance, and PGMOL policy. THE AUDIT Keith utilises Statscore’s Officiating Telemetry, including Deep-Data Metrics like Incident Accuracy Rates, VAR Intervention Latency, and Official Positional Efficiency. He provides technical refereeing analysis to reveal the regulatory reality behind match-defining decisions.

Published on:

29 Dec 2024, 11:49 am

Rangers found themselves wrapped up in yet another VAR controversy in their 2-2 draw with Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday afternoon.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos' first-half goal was allowed to stand even though the ball appeared to strike his arm before he slotted the ball past Jack Butland.

Robin Propper's attempted clearing header was poor but the ball did hit Stamatelopoulos' arm.

Keith Hackett believes referee Kevin Clancy, VAR Steven McLean and VAR assistant Alan Mulvanny should have disallowed the goal.

"This is handball," the former Premier League and FIFA referee told Ibrox News.

"The forward's hands or arm are not in a natural position and his body movement and contact with the ball should have resulted in this goal being chalked off."

Clement faces Rangers sack after latest VAR controversy

Philippe Clement is under increasing pressure at Ibrox with Celtic moving further ahead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Stamatelopoulos' goal was the first of two Rangers conceded on their way to drawing 2-2 at Fir Park.

Former PGMOL general manager Hackett adds that incorrect VAR calls can lead to managers - like Clement - being sacked.

Hackett added: "When the Scottish FA introduced VAR they were hoping it would improve the quality of the decision-making in the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement [Credit: Imago]

"These big decisions, particularly around handball, are subjective. Whilst the ball is being cleared upfield hits the forward there is for me a clear handling offence.

"Referees have to concentrate on getting these big decisions correct. The consequences of getting it wrong at the elite level are so important.

"It can impact on managers losing their jobs along with his coaching staff. It can result in relegation or missing out on UEFA qualification.

"The important thing is for Head of Referees Willie Collum to look at these incidents and take appropriate action to issue the appropriate operational advice."

In other Rangers news, Clement has been blasted for a request he made to journalists at a press conference.

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