Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Copeland

Rangers handball call branded 'mind-boggling' as Partick Thistle penalty decision sparks pundits' fury

Marvin Bartley reckons the decision to give Partick Thistle a penalty in the first-half against Rangers was "mind-boggling" - and never a handball against Antonio Colak.

The Championship side took the lead in the first half of the Scottish Cup clash at Ibrox but as is becoming the custom when VAR is involved, it wasn't without its controversy. Kevin Holt opened the scoring from 12 yards after the ball struck Colak's arm at close range and whistler David Munro initially didn't give it.

But a VAR check prompted the man in the middle to point to the spot and pundits Bartley and Alan Hutton were left in disbelief as they discussed it at the break. Hutton said: "We're talking about it, it's such a difficult one. For me, it's not a penalty. I don't know what he's supposed to do, he's going up to header the ball, it's going over his head and he's got a second to react. Your arm is there to help you and keep you on your feet, he's got no time to react so I can't see how that's given as a penalty."

But Bartley went further than his colleague as he responded: "I think Alan's being very nice there. That's never, ever been a penalty kick. The fact the referee's went across, checked it and given it is mind-boggling.

"He's got his hand in the air to protect himself. If his hand's down, he's in massive trouble. There's no way he can intentionally handball that. Sooner or later, this rule has to change, the people who are controlling the rules have to think logically. That is not a handball, it's not a penalty."

READ NEXT

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.