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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

6 Hearts vs Rangers VAR calls in focus from Ryan Kent penalty claim to Connor Goldson handball scrutiny

It was never going to be a quiet night in the capital as Rangers travelled to in-form Hearts - and despite the comfortable margin of victory VAR and referee John Beaton dominate the talking points again.

Michael Beale's men had three goals ruled by the man in the middle, two from Fashion Sakala and one from Alfredo Morelos - with VAR assistant Kevin Clancy ruling that the Colombian's strike should have been awarded in the 3-0 victory. Ryan Kent also was awarded a penalty in the box while Hearts man Alex Cochrane protested his innocence - and VAR would clear the Jambos' defender of any wrongdoing.

There was still time for another penalty appeal when the ball made contact with Rangers defender Connor Goldson's hand in the closing stages, which was sent for a VAR check but went unpunished by the officials. All that squeezed in around Morelos' double and a strike from Malik Tillman made for an entertaining evening under the Tynecastle lights.

But did whistler Beaton and his assistants get the decisions right? Record Sport takes a look at the BBC Sportscene reaction from Michael Stewart and Richard Foster.

Ryan Kent penalty claim

John Beaton performed a U-turn on his spot kick award when Ryan Kent went down in the box with the replay showing there was no contact with Alex Cochrane. Clancy in the control room sent the official to the monitor and the decision was overturned.

Michael Stewart insisted it was an obvious call for the two officials to make: "I know this is quite clearly not a penalty kick. VAR eventually takes a look at it and does get it right.

"You can see quite clearly that Cochrane doesn't foul him. I think John Beaton is talking to his linesman because he doesn't point to the penalty spot right away. It's the linesman that thought it was a penalty and VAR eventually gets it right."

Alfredo Morelos first 'offside' goal

The Colombian enjoyed an impressive night in the capital - but in truth it could have been much better had he held his run to net the opening goal. A sustained period of Rangers pressure saw Fashion Sakala find the Colombian with a neat pass across the box, but the linesman quickly ruled out the opener.

Beaton consulted VAR and was backed on the decision. Foster pointed the finger of blame at Morelos: "He probably shouldn't be offside there."

Fashion Sakala's first 'offside' goal

It was them Sakala's turn to find the net - and see if ruled out. Ryan Kent slipped the pacy winger beyond the home defence and he slipped the ball beyond Zander Clark. The linesman flagged it offside, and VAR backed the call up. Foster said: "Sakala could probably hold his run there and Ryan Kent has another assist."

Fashion Sakala's second 'offside' goal

Sakala was in again - but was denied by VAR for a second time. Glen Kamara's lifted pass allowed the winger to chase down the ball and shrug off the Hearts defence. He would beat Clark but was quickly flagged offside, and VAR upheld the ruling. Stewart: "These are all marginal calls, but they are right."

Alfredo Morelos second 'offside' goal

Morelos looked to have netted his second and Rangers third of the night when Fashion Sakala slipped the ball across from the right flank to slide the ball across the six-yard box, leaving the Colombian with the tap-in. However, Sakala was adjudged to have gone too early by the linesman and celebrations were curtailed.

VAR would show that the flag had been incorrectly raised - and VAR overrules the on-pitch official. Stewart insisted those in the VAR room had got it right.

He said: "This is poor defending. You see Alex Cochrane stepping up when all he really should be doing is dropping in. Quite clearly he is onside."

Foster chimed in: "A lot of calls are quite tight, but when you hold a high line and there is no pressure on the ball, and you get it wrong, you concede a goal."

Connor Goldson 'handball'

With Hearts trailing 3-0, Toby Sibbick's cross into the box was cleared by Connor Goldson. The Rangers man kicked the ball up onto his own hand, before lumping the ball away from danger.

Despite Beaton not awarding the decision on the pitch there were loud appeals from the Hearts players for a penalty. VAR would eventually back up Beaton's call.

The incident was flagged on Sportscene but neither Stewart nor Foster took a deep dive on the flashpoint. IFAB rules state: "It is a handball offence if a player: "Deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball or 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. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised".

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