Dermot Gallagher hails SPFL for being ‘absolutely consistent’ after Celtic penalty v Rangers

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Celtic fans breathed a sigh of relief when Reo Hatate equalised in the dying minutes against Rangers on Sunday.

It was another late, late show from Martin O’Neill’s side, with Dujon Sterling being punished for handball, after John Beaton was informed by VAR to check on his monitor.

Dermot Gallagher praised the SPFL for being ‘absolutely consistent’ with their handball ruling, and how it was a definite penalty for Celtic at Ibrox.

“Absolutely consistent with what they have done all season,” said Gallagher. “They are 100% consistent on the handball application in Scotland. No doubt about it.”

To nobody’s surprise, some have moaned about the penalty award, including one Ally McCoist, but thankfully, Gallagher is on hand to shut down that noise and explain the reasoning behind the spot kick for Celtic.

• READ MORE: Gerry McCulloch and Peter Grant’s hilarious Celtic TV reaction to John Beaton’s VAR check

Dermot Gallagher on instantly knowing Celtic would be awarded a penalty against Rangers

The handball rule can be muddy at times; sometimes it’s difficult to differentiate what is handball and what isn’t.

Thankfully, in this instance, it was clear as day, and not even the Rangers players on the pitch had a moan, as a draw was the fair result in the Glasgow derby.

Gallagher shared that he was watching the game live, and after seeing ‘one replay’, he instantly knew what was going to happen, as he told Sky Sports News on Ref Watch.

“Absolutely consistent with what they have done all season,” said Gallagher. “I thought the goalkeeper had saved it, at first.

“I saw one replay, and I thought ‘this was going to be a penalty’, because, you ask for consistency, they are 100% consistent on the handball application in Scotland. No doubt about it.

“Every time that happens. The referee always points to the spot. Or if the referee doesn’t see it, the VAR alerts him like he has done here.”

Jay Bothroyd tries to defend Dujon Sterling

Former Premier League forward Jay Bothroyd tried to justify what Sterling did and why he did it because the Rangers defender denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Bothroyd thinks Sterling is expecting his goalkeeper, Jack Butland, to deal with that situation, but he doesn’t, and then he goes into protective mode as the ball is coming at him.

“I mean, you can’t really disagree with it,” added Bothroyd. “The consistency in the SPFL has made that. Everyone knows there is no grey area at all.

“The only thing I would say on that is when you are in that situation, it’s one of those crosses where the keeper is there.

“You think, ‘he is going to come out.’ The forward is there; he is going to come in and attack the ball. Then the defender is trying to get anything to block it. You don’t know where your arms are going to be. It’s not a reaction.

“People will say, ‘Why are his hands there, though?’ His hands are there because he is trying to protect himself and block the shots at the same time. The consistency makes it the right decision.”