Controversial Aberdeen vs Rangers moment sparks 'common sense' Ref Watch debate (2025)

Nisbet thought he had won the game for the hosts only for VAR to swiftly rule his goal out for handball

Dermot Gallagher says Kevin Nisbet was 'desperately unlucky' to have a goal that would have won the game for Aberdeen against Rangers chalked off for handball - but insists the black and white nature of the rule book meant that it would have never been allowed to stand.

Jimmy Thelin's Dons had raced into a 2-0 lead at half-time at Pittodrie courtesy of goals from Leighton Clarkson and Pape Habib Gueye, with the visitors also being reduced to 10 men after Ross McCausland saw red for two bookable offences.

But Aberdeen's slack display after the break allowed Barry Ferguson's men to creep back into the game, with Ianis Hagi netting a stunning equaliser in the final minute of injury time after fellow sub Hamza Igamane had pulled one back early in the half.

Prior to the dramatic equaliser, the Reds thought they had wrapped up the points when Nisbet lashed home from close range after Gers had failed to deal with Clarkson's inswinging set-piece delivery.

But following a VAR check, the goal was quickly ruled out after replays showed that the ball clearly struck the Millwall loanee's arm before he rifled it into the net.

On Sky Sports weekly Ref Watch show, former pros Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith both argued that 'common sense' should be applied and that Nisbet's goal should have been allowed to stand because he knew nothing about it.

But while admitting that it was harsh, ex Premier League whistler Gallagher is adamant that the right call was made.

He said: "A few years ago when an Arsenal player scored at Burnley and it went in off his arm, everybody was up in arms saying 'this can't go on' and 'you can't score like that'.

"Now we have got to the stage where people are saying 'this wasn't deliberate, it hit his elbow' or 'what else can he do?'

"But that's the world we live in now. We decided that we not going to give a player a goal if it comes off his arm, that's it.

"It's far better (now) than what it was. If it was my arm and bounced down to you and you scored, it was disallowed then.

"I think he's desperately unlucky because he knows nothing about it but that's how the directive has been written.

"I think play-on is a good tactic but at what point do you step in or what has got to happen, short of it being a deliberate handball.

"It's a harsh decision but he has got to do it. Referees don't always like the rule but they have to apply it."

Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.

You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.

Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.