SPL

Philippe Clement questions handball law after Rangers concede penalty

By Sports Desk January 02, 2024

Philippe Clement was left puzzled after Rangers conceded a rare penalty in the 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox.

The Ibrox club had called for more transparency over VAR’s interpretation of handball after there had been no spot-kick awarded after the ball had come off Celtic defender Alistair Johnston’s hand inside the box in the 2-1 defeat at Parkhead on Saturday.

Rangers were leading 2-0 against fourth-place Killie through goals by Ross McCausland and Abdallah Sima when VAR called for a penalty check after Rory McKenzie’s cross struck the arm of Gers defender John Souttar inside the box.

Referee John Beaton went to his pitchside monitor and then pointed to the spot, with Danny Armstrong giving Jack Butland no chance before Todd Cantwell restored the two-goal lead to keep the Light Blues eight points behind Celtic with two games in hand.

It was the first penalty Rangers had conceded in 75 cinch Premiership matches since Lewis Ferguson netted for Aberdeen in a 1-1 draw in January 2022

Clement told Rangers TV: “The only downside for me is that I cannot explain to my players anymore what is handball and what is not after this game if we get a penalty against like this and a goal against like this three days after what happened at Celtic Park.

“I can’t give them an explanation and that’s different as a manager when you cannot give an explanation.

“It’s not easy. Afterwards, we can laugh and it’s not a big difference, it’s 3-0 or 3-1.

“Just for the future, it needs to be clear for everybody what is handball and what is not handball and these two situations it’s a little bit bizarre.”

Related items

  • Dream debut: Dixon shines with goal, assist on debut for Charlton U21s in 3-2 win over Watford Dream debut: Dixon shines with goal, assist on debut for Charlton U21s in 3-2 win over Watford

    Reggae Boy Kaheim Dixon was on the scoresheet in his debut for Charlton Athletic U21s in a 3-2 win over Watford at Vicarage Road on Friday.

    Charlton took the lead after just two minutes through a goal from Henry Rylah before Watford got their equalizer through Mamadou Doumbia a minute later.

    The 19-year-old Dixon, who joined the League One club from Arnett Gardens in August, then capitalized from a defensive mistake by Watford to put his team up 2-1.

    Charlton then went two goals clear thanks to Mile Leaburn, who was assisted by Dixon.

    Doumbia got his second goal of the game to finish the scoring at 3-2.

    Charlton U21s now have 19 points in seven games in the Professional Development League.

    The win strengthens lead atop the table to six points.

    They will next take on Brentford U21s on October 1.

     

     

  • Alcaraz beaten on Laver Cup debut with Zverev in doubles Alcaraz beaten on Laver Cup debut with Zverev in doubles

    Carlos Alcaraz suffered defeat on his Laver Cup debut, as he was beaten in straight sets alongside Alexander Zverev in doubles by Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton.

    Team Europe put up a strong fight but struggled to match Fritz and Shelton, who won 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in one hour and 37 minutes.

    Alcaraz and Zverev made a slow start to the match, losing their serve in the fourth game as the Americans went on a three-game winning streak, but they pulled it back to level the tie, only to lose the tie-break.

    Team Europe looked to have found their groove in the second set but failed to convert four break points in the fourth game as Fritz and Shelton levelled the score at 2-2.

    A three-game winning run at the end of the set, including one more break, was enough to get Team World over the line, pulling them back to 2-2 at the end of day one.

    Francisco Cerundolo had originally given Team World the lead with a shock win over Casper Ruud before Stefanos Tsitsipas and Grigor Dimitrov's wins had put Team Europe 2-1 up.

  • Walter proud of 'courageous' Hull after comeback win Walter proud of 'courageous' Hull after comeback win

    Tim Walter says he is proud of his "courageous" Hull City side after earning his first win in charge, beating Stoke City 3-1.

    Narcis Pelach led the Potters out for the first time on Friday and saw his side take a 1-0 lead through Ben Wilmot into half-time. 

    However, Hull came out fighting in the second half to claim three points for the first time this season.

    Kasey Palmer saw a penalty saved just after the hour mark but turned in the rebound before goals from Regan Slater and an own goal from Wilmot completed their late turnaround.

    It is a win that propels the Tigers from 19th to 13th in the Championship, above Stoke, and Walter believes it has been a long time coming.

    "It's hard to describe because I never had this feeling before. I've never not had a win in five games, so for me, it's a new situation," Walter told Sky Sports.

    "But I also knew the whole time that we can win. Today we did it and that's the reason I'm really proud of my boys. They deserved to win.

    "I'm happy because they always believed they can win and that's important.

    "After conceding the goal, we were better. We were more courageous. We showed more bravery and that's the key to the result."

    Pelach succeeded Steven Schumacher as Stoke's manager following his shock sacking earlier this week, having won two of the five matches under the Englishman at the start of the season.

    Stoke managed 14 shots against Hull, but only two efforts on target, with both of those coming in the first 45 minutes.

    Despite starting with a defeat, Pelach is looking for the positives after such a short time with the squad.

    "It's a pity we couldn't win the game," Pelach told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "We wanted to take the points, but I think the lads tried to put a new style of play in place.

    "But in the second half, we lost control and ran out of energy. We should have pressed more, but we will try to explain this tomorrow and keep working on the defensive style.

    "There is some things to work on mentally and we will do it. We will take the positives, and we will improve."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.