SFA facing pressure after former referee exposes why Celtic’s penalty against Rangers was a clear error

Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has called for changes to the handball law, arguing that only deliberate actions should be punished rather than accidental incidents such as the one involving Sterling.

Hackett’s comments echo the frustration voiced by Alan Shearer after another controversial handball decision in the Premier League. Speaking to Ibrox News, Hackett explained that match officials are often left with no choice under the current wording of the law.

He said referees must award a penalty in situations like that because the rules leave them little room for interpretation. He also noted that a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity would not apply in such a case, as the goalkeeper still had a strong chance of making a save.

Hackett believes the ongoing controversy stems from the wording of the handball law itself. Supporting Shearer’s stance, he argued that the focus should return to whether an action was truly “deliberate” before a free-kick or penalty is awarded.

Shearer, speaking on Match of the Day, criticised the rule following Burnley’s late equaliser against Brentford being ruled out for handball. He said he strongly dislikes the current interpretation of the law and feels it has been mishandled.

According to Shearer, officials now have to weigh up multiple factors such as intent, proximity, and whether a player’s arm position is natural or unnatural — creating confusion and inconsistency. He added that lengthy VAR checks, like the delay at Turf Moor, leave fans frustrated and undermine the flow of the game.

The handball law itself is set by International Football Association Board (IFAB). The guidelines state that the upper boundary of the arm is level with the bottom of the armpit when judging handball offences. Not every contact between ball and arm is considered an infringement.

An offence occurs if a player deliberately handles the ball, for example by moving their arm towards it. It can also be given if a player’s arm position makes their body “unnaturally bigger,” meaning the arm is extended beyond what would be considered a natural silhouette for that specific action.

However, critics argue that these definitions still leave too much room for interpretation — continuing to fuel debate across the game.