Scottish football’s return to action has already sparked a heated debate, thanks to a controversial VAR decision in the Rangers’ opening match of the season against Hearts. The incident, involving a potential handball in the Rangers box, has left the Hearts’ support fuming, believing they were denied a clear penalty that could have altered the game’s outcome.
Last season, this kind of decision was given more often than not.
Given that this was the first game of the season, this decision has set the benchmark for how handball incidents are going to be officiated. With Willie Collum now at the helm as the head of referees, expectations were high that the summer summit, which aimed to clarify the rules around handball decisions, would bring much-needed consistency to these calls. Was this the first decision of a new era of hand ball incidents?
For Celtic supporters, the question now is whether this early decision will be the standard moving forward. If this is indeed the approach that will be taken in such situations, then it needs to be applied evenly across all teams and matches.
The frustration felt by Hearts fans highlights the importance of this decision. It’s not just about one moment in one game, but about setting a clear and fair precedent for the season ahead. As we move forward, all eyes will be on how similar incidents are handled, with the hope that this decision will lead to a more consistent application of the rules throughout the campaign.
Whether Collum and his team can maintain this standard across the board is yet to be seen, but the expectation is clear—fairness and consistency must be the cornerstone of officiating this season.
Celtic start their campaign against Kilmarnock on Sunday where they will be hoping to come away with all three points. Let’s hope the game continues this new relaxed approach to the hand ball rule.
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