Ally McCoist has admitted his frustration with the handball law after Celtic were granted a late penalty against Rangers.
The most recent Old Firm showdown in the Premiership finished 2-2 at Ibrox after Danny Rohl’s men surrendered a two-goal advantage on home soil against their fiercest rivals.
Youssef Chermiti’s brace handed Rangers firm control before Kieran Tierney pulled one back and Reo Hatate forced in the rebound after Jack Butland kept out his initial spot-kick.
The chance from 12 yards arrived after a delivery into the area was nodded onto the arm of Dujon Sterling by Hoops forward Daizen Maeda.
Rangers legend McCoist questioned what the Light Blues defender could realistically have done differently but maintains the wording of the handball regulation must be revised to emphasise that only intentional offences should be punished.
Ally McCoist on Rangers penalty handball vs Celtic:
He told talkSPORT: “Well, it’s definitely handball. I’m not sure what Sterling is meant to do. You know, I’ve got no idea. People saying it prevented it getting into the goal. I think the goalkeeper’s there as well, but, listen, there is no argument it hits his hand. I’ve got an unbelievable amount of sympathy for him because, effectively, he’s been given a penalty against him for somebody heading the ball off his hand.
“He’s no idea. His hand is in a natural, not unnatural, his hand is in a natural position for the way he is trying to close the player down. You don’t run about with your hands to your side. I can understand why they gave it but I just thought it was extremely harsh on Sterling because he knew nothing about it.
“I think we’re going to have to at some point bring in the word intentional use of the hand. Do you know what I mean? We’re going to have to bring that in because some of the handballs, the guys just don’t have a clue. You know, even guys having shots with their arms at their side and you see someone giving a penalty and things like that. It’s just… it’s really, really poor.
What is IFAB law on handball
“The first thing I would say is I think a draw was probably a fair result. Although I’ve got a little bit of a problem with and I feel a little bit sorry for Sterling, because he doesn’t know anything about it, I think a draw was probably a fair result with both teams dominating one half.”
IFAB outline in the handball law: “For the purposes of determining handball offences, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence. It is an offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball.
“Touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their
