Michael Stewart has questioned the consistency of handball decisions in Scottish football following Rangers’controversial 1-0 victory over Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final.

The former Scotland international believes the interpretation of handball has become increasingly confusing, highlightingtwo penalty appeals at Hampden that were rejected by referee Ryan Lee and VAR official John Beaton.

Derek McInnes’ side eventually secured their place in the final through Ryan Naderi’s late goal, but the performance ofthe match officials became a major talking point after the final whistle.

Stewart was not necessarily arguing that either incident should have resulted in a penalty. Instead, his frustration centredon the different standards seemingly applied to similar situations in other matches.

Stewart highlights two controversial handball incidents

The first incident involved Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez and Aberdeen midfielder Ayoub Mouloua.

Fernandez headed the ball down inside the Rangers penalty area, with the ball appearing to strike Mouloua’s outstretchedarm. Rangers players immediately appealed for a spot-kick, but Lee allowed play to continue.

VAR official John Beaton did not recommend that the referee review the incident on the pitch.

Another handball appeal followed at the other end, this time involving Dujon Sterling.

The Rangers defender attempted to challenge for an aerial ball but failed to make contact with it before it struck hisforearm inside the penalty area.

Aberdeen supporters wanted a penalty, but the officials again decided against awarding one, with VAR making nointervention.

Stewart was particularly interested in the Sterling incident, questioning why comparable handball situations have resultedin penalties elsewhere.

Speaking on the Scottish Football Social Club, he said:

“For handballs, the bar for me or should be higher.

“But, we have seen ludicrous handballs given and the bar for those that have been given is far lower than what happenedthere.”

Stewart subsequently clarified that he was comfortable with the outcomes of both incidents at Hampden.

“On the face of it, two decisions, I’m happy with it.”

His argument was therefore less about Rangers or Aberdeen being denied a penalty and more about the lack ofconsistency in how handball decisions are judged across Scottish football.

Handball rules continue to cause confusion

The controversy highlights the difficulty referees face when deciding whether contact between the ball and a player’s armconstitutes an offence.

Under IFAB’s Law 12, contact with the hand or arm does not automatically mean a penalty should be awarded.

Officials must assess whether a player deliberately moved their arm towards the ball or positioned it in a way that madetheir body unnaturally bigger.

They must also consider whether the arm’s position was justified by the player’s movement and the circumstancessurrounding the contact.

This means that incidents which look similar in photographs can produce different outcomes when the full sequence ofplay is considered.

VAR is also expected to intervene only when there is a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident within itsremit.

That leaves plenty of room for debate, particularly when supporters compare decisions from different matches.

For Stewart, the bigger problem is the apparent difference in the threshold used by officials rather than the two decisionsmade during the Rangers-Aberdeen encounter.

James Penrice avoids red card after controversial challenge

The handball appeals were not the only moments that attracted criticism at Hampden.

Rangers defender James Penrice also escaped a sending-off following a high challenge on Aberdeen midfielder AfeezAremu.

Replays appeared to show Penrice catching his opponent around the hip and ribs with his studs during the tackle.

Referee Ryan Lee awarded a free-kick, but Beaton did not recommend a VAR review for a possible red card.

The decision prompted criticism from former Premier League officials Bobby Madden and Mark Clattenburg.

Both believed Penrice should have been dismissed for serious foul play. Madden questioned whether the challengeendangered Aremu’s safety, while Clattenburg also expressed concerns about the nature of the tackle.

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett subsequently described the incident as a clear red-card offence when speaking toIbrox News.

Despite the criticism, Penrice remained on the pitch and Rangers finished the match with 11 players.

The combination of that challenge and the two handball appeals ensured that the refereeing debate became a major part ofthe post-match reaction.

Stewart returns to Hampden after SFA disagreement

Stewart’s latest comments have also attracted attention because of his previous dispute with the Scottish FootballAssociation.

The pundit spent more than six months away from Hampden after being handed an indefinite ban following criticism ofScottish refereeing, including remarks about head of refereeing Willie Collum.

The disagreement reached an unusual stage when Stewart was forced to broadcast from a production truck outsideHampden during Dunfermline’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Falkirk.

However, the dispute was eventually resolved, allowing him to return to the national stadium for Rangers’ meeting withAberdeen on October 31.

Stewart also apologised to SFA officials, accepting that some of his previous comments had crossed the line.

In a statement issued through Premier Sports, he said:

“On both sides there was an agreement that everyone has the right to an opinion, but I also accept that at times some ofmy comments may have been over the top and I have apologised for that.”

He also made clear that he wanted to focus on discussing Scottish football in a positive manner.

His latest intervention suggests that the resolution of the disagreement has not stopped him from openly questioningrefereeing decisions when he believes they deserve scrutiny.

Rangers book League Cup final place despite controversy

Away from the officiating debate, Rangers accomplished what they set out to do by defeating Aberdeen and securing theirplace in the Premier Sports Cup final.

McInnes’ side enjoyed the greater share of possession and registered 25 attempts, although only five found the target.

Aberdeen remained competitive throughout the contest and had opportunities of their own before Naderi finally broke thedeadlock in the closing stages.

The striker converted from close range after an effort from Penrice created the opportunity, sending Rangers back toHampden for the final.

It was another important result for McInnes, who is now one victory away from securing his first trophy as Rangersmanager. The win also extended the club’s unbeaten run to 11 matches.

Nevertheless, Stewart’s comments have ensured that the conversation surrounding the semi-final extends beyond Rangers’progression.

The former midfielder’s main concern is the apparent inconsistency in handball decisions across Scottish football. Whilehe accepted the outcomes of the two appeals at Hampden, he believes other incidents have been judged against anoticeably different standard.

Until supporters and clubs have greater clarity over how these decisions are being interpreted, the debate surroundingScottish refereeing is unlikely to disappear.