Rangers penalty 'shambles' eviscerated by Ally McCoist as ref accused of going beyond handball with VAR sin

Baffled Ally McCoist has rinsed the VAR "shambles" that eventually saw a penalty awarded to Nice against Rangers overturned.

In the opening exchanges of the Europa League clash, referee Ricardo de Burgos would blow up for what initially appeared to be centre-back John Souttar being punished for a handball. However, the VAR room intervened and encouraged the whistler to go to the pitchside monitor to review the incident.

The Allianz Riviera screens would signal that a handball was being checked - but replays showed that incident being analysed was a flashpoint involved Dujon Sterling. After the infringement appeared to be ruled out, the Spanish referee then took a look at a tackle by Connor Barron in the box - before eventually awarding the visitors a free-kick.

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After watching the incident involving Souttar on TNT Sports co-commentary, a confused McCoist said: "You can't be giving it for that. There is no way that's a handball, none whatsoever. But, does he give it for the following one on Connor Barron? I can't tell you right now what he has given it for because there is one or two there."

After a brief pause, McCoist pointed to the screens: "It says handball right enough. They are checking for handball."

The cameras then cut away to Sterling on the pitchside monitor. The Rangers hero went on: "So, it’s the second one? Not the one on Souttar. I'm not sure he can give it for that either. I don't even think it hits his arm, you would think he would changed it. It's amazing, because I thought it might have been Connor Barron's challenge."

The official then rolled the footage back to look at midfielder Barron's tackle with Rory Hamilton noting that it appeared Nice were being given three chances to get the spot-kick. An irked McCoist cut in: "That's my point. Handball - that is what they are telling us right now. The fact of the matter is that there hasn't been a handball. It looks like he (Connor Barron) has kicked the ball."

After a goal kick was given by the man in the middle, McCoist couldn't help but laugh: "That has completely baffled me. It has come up potential penalty for handball and then they are looking at Connor Barron - with the greatest of respect, that was a bit of a shambles wasn't it?"

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