NafisaKris Boyd has weighed into the controversial handball incident involving Dujon Sterling during Rangers’ Premier Sports Cup semi-final victory over Aberdeen, adding another talking point to an afternoon that left plenty of questions about the officiating at Hampden.
Rangers secured their place in the final after beating Aberdeen 1-0, with Ryan Naderi scoring the decisive goal in the 83rd minute. However, the result was accompanied by several contentious refereeing moments, including an incident that left the Aberdeen players and supporters demanding a penalty.
And while the debate initially centred on the decision made by referee Ryan Lee and VAR official John Beaton, Boyd’s reaction has brought renewed attention to what happened inside the Rangers penalty area.
The former Rangers striker has now offered his assessment of the incident, giving supporters another perspective on a decision that continues to attract scrutiny.
Sterling handball appeal causes controversy at Hampden
The incident occurred when Sterling misjudged an attempted header inside the Rangers penalty area, allowing the ball to strike his forearm.
Aberdeen immediately appealed for a penalty, believing the contact should have resulted in a spot-kick. However, referee Ryan Lee was not persuaded, and VAR official John Beaton did not recommend an on-field review.
Rangers were therefore allowed to continue without conceding a penalty, much to the frustration of the Aberdeen supporters.
The decision became one of the major talking points from the semi-final, particularly because Sterling appeared to miss the ball with his head before it made contact with his arm.
For Aberdeen, it represented a potentially significant opportunity to change the course of the match. At the time, the contest remained goalless, and a penalty could have given Stephen Robinson’s side an opportunity to take the lead.
Instead, play continued, and Rangers eventually found the breakthrough through Naderi’s late strike.
Kris Boyd weighs in on the controversial decision
Boyd’s reaction is particularly interesting given his long-standing association with Rangers and his regular involvement in debates surrounding Scottish football’s biggest refereeing controversies.
The former Ibrox striker has never been shy about offering his opinion on contentious decisions, and his latest comments have provided another talking point for supporters following the Aberdeen match.
“But it definitely hits Dujon Sterling’s arm, and his arm is out from his body. It’s a penalty kick. Absolutely no complaints.
His assessment has added another dimension to the discussion surrounding Sterling’s handball, with attention once again turning towards whether the officials were right to allow play to continue.
The central question remains whether Sterling’s arm was in a natural position as he attempted to challenge for the ball or whether the contact should have been punished with a penalty.
That distinction is crucial when assessing handball incidents, as contact between the ball and a player’s arm does not automatically constitute an offence.
However, Aberdeen supporters will understandably point to the fact that Sterling missed the attempted header and the ball subsequently struck his forearm inside the penalty area.
Michael Stewart also questioned the decision
Boyd is not the only football pundit to have discussed the incident.
Sky Sports pundit Michael Stewart was particularly critical of the decision, highlighting the fact that Sterling failed to make contact with the ball using his head before it struck his arm.
He said:
“It hits his forearm! He misses the ball and it hits his arm. I’ve seen a million incidents like that that have been given. He doesn’t get his head anywhere near it!”
Former Aberdeen defender Andy Considine offered a slightly different assessment, acknowledging that players need their arms to jump but also recognising that similar situations have resulted in penalties.
He said:
“It’s very similar (to Mouloua). It’s harsh. You need your arms to jump, but I’ve seen them given.”
Those contrasting assessments underline why the incident has continued to generate discussion.
Rangers progress, but the handball debate continues
Ultimately, Rangers got the result they wanted, securing their place in the Premier Sports Cup final against Hearts after Naderi’s late winner.
For Derek McInnes, the victory represented another opportunity to compete for silverware, with the final scheduled for December 13.
Aberdeen, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a frustrating afternoon in which they came close to taking the contest further but ultimately failed to find a way past Rangers.
The Sterling incident will remain part of the post-match conversation, particularly among supporters who believe Aberdeen should have been awarded a penalty.
Boyd’s reaction has now added another voice to that debate, ensuring that the controversial moment will not disappear simply because Rangers have booked their place in the final.
Nafisa
