NafisaRangers may have booked their place in the Premier Sports Cup final with a narrow victory over Aberdeen, but another controversial refereeing decision at Hampden has continued to generate debate after Michael Stewart questioned how the Ibrox side escaped conceding a penalty.
The incident involved Dujon Sterling, whose handball inside the Rangers penalty area sparked an appeal from Aberdeen during Saturday’s semi-final.
Referee Ryan Lee did not award a penalty, while VAR official John Beaton did not recommend an on-field review. The decision left Aberdeen frustrated and added another contentious moment to a match that has attracted considerable scrutiny over the officials’ performance.
However, it was Stewart’s reaction to the incident that particularly caught the attention of viewers, with the former Scotland international making his feelings clear during the television coverage.
Rangers man Michael Stewart questions Gers penalty decision
Stewart was unhappy with the decision not to award Aberdeen a spot-kick, arguing that Sterling’s arm made contact with the ball after the Rangers defender failed to make a successful attempt to head it away.
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!”
His comments highlighted the central issue surrounding the appeal: whether Sterling’s arm position and the circumstances of the contact should have resulted in a penalty.
The former midfielder’s argument was that Sterling had an opportunity to deal with the ball but failed to make contact with his head before it struck his forearm.
For Aberdeen supporters, it was another moment to question why a potentially significant decision went against them during a crucial cup semi-final.
VAR checks incident but Rangers escape punishment
The incident was checked by VAR, with John Beaton involved in the review process.
However, no on-field review was recommended, meaning Ryan Lee’s original decision to allow play to continue remained unchanged.
Under the handball laws, not every contact between the ball and a player’s arm constitutes an offence. Officials must consider factors including the position of the arm in relation to the player’s body movement and whether the player has made their body unnaturally bigger.
That assessment is particularly important when a player is attempting to challenge for an aerial ball, as the natural movement of the arms can influence how the incident is judged.
Nevertheless, Stewart’s reaction showed why the decision remained contentious. He believed the circumstances warranted a penalty, especially because Sterling failed to connect with the ball using his head before it struck his arm.
The fact that VAR did not recommend a review will only add to the questions surrounding the decision, although there has been no detailed public explanation confirming the officials’ precise reasoning.
Rangers’ Hampden victory overshadowed by refereeing controversy
The handball appeal was not the only major refereeing talking point from the semi-final.
Earlier in the contest, James Penrice escaped even a yellow card after catching Aberdeen midfielder Afeez Aremu with a dangerously high boot.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett subsequently described that challenge as a clear red-card offence, questioning why VAR had not intervened.
The two incidents have therefore created separate points of controversy for Aberdeen supporters: a potential dismissal for Penrice and a penalty appeal involving Sterling.
Rangers ultimately avoided punishment in both situations and went on to secure a 1-0 victory, with Ryan Naderi scoring in the 83rd minute to send his side into the final.
For Aberdeen, the disappointment will be compounded by the feeling that key decisions did not go their way during a match decided by a single goal.
For Rangers, the result means another opportunity to lift silverware remains alive, but the performance of the match officials has become a major talking point.
And with Michael Stewart openly questioning the Sterling handball decision, the debate over Aberdeen’s penalty appeal is unlikely to disappear quickly.
Nafisa
