Ex-Uefa official: Rangers victims of injustice as controversial Connor Goldson footage emerges

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise did not deserve their penalty in the 2-0 win over Rangers in the Champions League third qualifying round first leg last week (2 August), according to Keith Hackett.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Uefa and Premier League referee insisted Connor Goldson did not deliberately handle the ball.

The ball struck Goldson from close range after a deflection from Ben Davies but the referee did not immediately point to the spot.

Irfan Pelijto was told to review the incident on the pitchside monitor before overturning his original decision.

After defeat in Belgium, Rangers set up a clash with PSV in the play-off round after a 3-0 win at Ibrox on Tuesday (9 August).

“I don’t think this is a handball,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.

“I genuinely don’t think there is a deliberate play, I’m not giving the penalty.

“The player can’t do anything. I think this is undue interference from the match official.

“I think the referee’s body language says to me ‘I’m unsure’.

“I don’t think that’s a deliberate handball and I wouldn’t expect a penalty kick to be given.

“If I was the referee I would have said to the VAR ‘No’.

“The referee is in a very good position so why has the VAR come in? He only comes in for a clear and obvious error and I don’t think that’s a clear and obvious error.

“I’ve got to have a still to determine where the ball has struck. If I’m the referee, I think the ball has struck his chest.

“I think they are very unfortunate to have a penalty awarded against them.”

In other news, Allan McGregor is “hurting” at Rangers as Giovanni van Bronckhorst reveals a “difficult” decision.

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