Struggling Robin Propper has been accused of assuming that VAR would penalise Motherwell for handball before Apostolos Stamatelopoulos opened the scoring.
It was a tough day at the office for Philippe Clement‘s side as they struggled at Fir Park with ‘Well striker Stamatelopoulos and Tawanda Maswanhise giving the hosts a two-goal advantage at the break with pressure ramping up on Rangers boss Clement ahead of the crucial clash with Celtic to open 2025. Hamza Igamane’s double would rescue a point – but it was another slog for defender Propper as he failed to show his best again.
The Dutchman admitted this week that after the summer move from FC Twente to Ibrox it had been a culture shock joining the Light Blues due to the relentless demand to win every week – and it was another tough afternoon for the 31-year-old in Lanarkshire. He headed the ball off of Stamatelopoulos – who latched on to the ball before a neat one-two and placing the ball beyond Jack Butland.
The ball appeared to strike the arm of the Australia cap after Propper’s header. Referee Kevin Clancy decided against awarding the free-kick with Steven McLean in the VAR room backing up the man in the middle.
And Hamilton Accies boss Rankin reckons Propper made a costly error – telling BBC Sportsound: “It was the split second in the delay – Propper heads it and is almost convinced it has hit his arm. Then he has lost that yard or two through hesitation. He is adamant it’s a handball – I can see it, it does hit his hand but it’s tucked in.”
Ex-Steelmen star Stephen Craigan defended the match officials, adding: “It’s allowed to hit his arm, as long as it’s not in an unnatural position. And it’s close proximity.”