Ally McCoist has stood firm on his Celtic penalty frustration, claiming “they are ruining our game” after Dujon Sterling was punished for handball in the dying stages of the Glasgow Derby.
We reported yesterday how Foy disagreed with McCoist’s view on the Celtic penalty, with the former referee backing the decision to award the spot kick after reviewing the footage ‘four or five times’.
Now, two days on, McCoist remained irate on talkSPORT as he urged IFAB to ‘bring the word intentional back’ after watching Celtic leave Ibrox with a share of the spoils in the Rangers stalemate.
Ally McCoist calls for ‘intentional’ handball rule to return after Celtic penalty controversy:
The talkSPORT presenter was still clearly annoyed about the Celtic penalty as he vented to Gabby Agbonlahor over the contentious decision.
McCoist: “I said, yesterday, Gab right, the game aside, Celtic deserved a point in the second half. But I don’t know, someone will have to explain to me what Sterling’s meant to do with his arms?
“We had Chris Foy on yesterday talking about arms in an unnatural position. And I’m saying ‘Chris his arm is in a natural position, because he’s PLAYING FOOTBALL. Is it not?
“He’s got no idea that ball hits him.”
Agbonlahor: “The common sense has gone. I loved football when it was deliberate handball. We all know what deliberate handball is.”
McCoist: “Correct. You’ve got to bring the word ‘intentional’ back.”
Agbonlahor: “It happened that quick. He didn’t do it on purpose. He didn’t put his arms out like that [to stop the goal]. The penalties that are given now are silly. I’m getting fed up mate.
“They’re ruining the game.”
McCoist: “That’s exactly what they are doing Gabby. They are ruining our game.”
Even IFAB dismisses McCoist’s Celtic penalty complaints
So why is McCoist so upset when IFAB’s lawmakers clearly indicate that the Celtic penalty decision was correct?
Under IFAB’s Law 12, the handball regulation states:
“It is an offence if the player: Touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger.
A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation.