A thrilling finish to the current Old Firm battle between Rangers and Celtic has renewed debate over handball rules, with a VAR-awarded penalty deciding the 2-2 draw at Ibrox.
The result did little to help either team’s Premiership hopes. Rangers are six points behind leaders Hearts, while Celtic are eight points behind with a game in hand. It was especially disheartening for the Light Blues since they raced into a two-goal lead at halftime after dominating the first 45 minutes.
Celtic replied after the break, cutting the deficit with a header from Kieran Tierney. The controversy erupted later, when Daizen Maeda whipped a cross into the Rangers box, striking Dujon Sterling’s arm. Goalkeeper Jack Butland made an initial save, but following a VAR review, a penalty was granted. Reo Hatate’s penalty kick was saved, but he converted the rebound to share the spoils.
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has since urged for a modification in the handball law, claiming that Sterling’s conduct appeared inadvertent and that referees had little choice under the existing interpretation.
According to Hackett, officials had “no alternative” but to award the penalty under existing criteria, while also noting that a red card for denial of a clear goal was not awarded because the goalie still had a strong opportunity of completing the save.
He reiterated Alan Shearer’s criticism of recent handball calls, which he also expressed unhappiness with. Shearer referred to the rule as unnecessarily convoluted, using terminology like “deliberate,” “proximity,” “natural,” and “unnatural” as examples of uneven interpretation. He also questioned lengthy VAR delays, claiming they are unfair to fans inside stadiums.
Under the current International Football Association Board (IFAB) guidelines, not all hand or arm contact is considered an offense. However, it is punished if a player intentionally advances their hand toward the ball or makes their body “unnaturally bigger” by positioning their arm in a position that is not justified by their movement.
The argument is unlikely to end anytime soon, as high-profile events continue to divide opinion in British sport.
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