Ex-Fifa official: Rangers victims of major injustice as controversial Scott Wright footage emerges
Rangers should have had a penalty in their 4-0 win over Ross County on Saturday (27 August), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed VAR would have awarded Rangers a spot-kick if it was in operation.
As shown on the BBC’s Sportscene, Scott Wright fired in a cross that appeared to hit the arm of Ross County’s Ben Purrington.
The defender had slid to stop the cross and moved his arm toward the ball to block its path.
Referee Don Robertson waved away Rangers’ appeals and with VAR not in operation until after the World Cup the game continued.
“That is handball,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“What he’s done is not slid into the ball, he’s actually elevated his arm through to tap it out of play.
“If you watch, as he goes through he helps the ball on its way.
“I think he knows exactly what he’s done. He’s lucky not to get a penalty kick awarded against him.
“When VAR comes in after the World Cup it will bring clarity to those sorts of incidents. I don’t criticise the referee because it was such a difficult call.
“It’s easy when you’re sat in an armchair having a look at it.”
Rangers followed up their thrashing of Ross County with a 3-1 win over Queen of the South on Tuesday (30 August) in the Scottish League Cup.
They are next in action on Saturday (3 September) when they travel to Parkhead to face Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season.
In other news, Rangers are set to open talks over an Ibrox striker deal.