Former referee Steve Conroy has ignited fresh controversy in the Scottish Premiership after claiming that Rangers FC were denied a “clear” penalty in their recent 1-0 victory over St Mirren FC.
The incident in question occurred during Sunday’s clash, when a header from Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin struck the arm of St Mirren defender Alex Gogic inside the penalty area. Despite strong appeals from the Rangers players, referee Steven McLean waved play on, and VAR official Chris Graham chose not to intervene.
Conroy, speaking on The Ref’s View podcast, did not hold back in his assessment. While acknowledging that, in an ideal interpretation of the game, such “ball-to-hand” incidents might not warrant punishment, he stressed that under the current rules and interpretations, the decision should have been straightforward.
“That is a clear penalty,” Conroy stated bluntly. “I caveat that slightly, because in a sane world that’s not given as a deliberate handball. But under the current climate, that’s clear as day a penalty.”
His comments highlight a growing frustration within football regarding the interpretation of handball laws, which many feel have become inconsistent and overly rigid. According to Conroy, Gogic’s arm position was key to the decision. He argued that the defender’s arm was unnaturally extended, making his body bigger and therefore meeting the criteria for a handball offence under modern guidelines.
“There is no manoeuvre in that incident that would justify his arm being that far away from his body,” Conroy added. “It’s unnatural, and he’s making himself bigger.”
The controversy does not end there. Questions have also been raised about whether the incident could have resulted in a red card for Gogic on the grounds of denying a goalscoring opportunity. While Conroy stopped short of fully endorsing that outcome, he did criticize the lack of VAR involvement, especially when compared to other recent decisions.
He referenced a separate incident involving Auston Trusty, who was sent off in a match between Celtic FC and Heart of Midlothian FC. That decision, which also involved VAR intervention, has been widely debated.
“The VAR scenario is inconsistent,” Conroy argued. “It all started with the Trusty one that VAR got involved in. In my opinion, that’s never denying a goalscoring opportunity. But if VAR gets involved there, why not here?”
He continued by suggesting that even if Raskin’s header was unlikely to result in a goal, it still constituted a clear attacking opportunity — which should have been enough to warrant further review.
“I don’t think Raskin would have scored,” Conroy admitted. “But I do think he was denied an opportunity. And that is all that is needed. It’s a farce.”
The incident has once again placed VAR under intense scrutiny, particularly in Scottish football, where debates over its consistency and application continue to dominate headlines. For Rangers, the missed penalty ultimately did not affect the final result, as they secured all three points. However, the broader implications of such decisions remain significant.
Moments like these fuel ongoing concerns among players, managers, and fans about fairness and transparency in officiating. As interpretations of the handball law continue to evolve, calls for clearer guidelines — and more consistent VAR intervention — are only growing louder.
In the end, while Rangers left the pitch with a win, the controversy surrounding the decision ensures that the debate over refereeing standards in the Scottish Premiership is far from over.