‘All Day Long’ – Michael Stewart reacts to VAR controversy as Rangers defeats Hearts

Michael Stewart believed that since it was a handball “all day long,” Cyriel Dessers’ second goal for Rangers

in their 5-0 annihilation of Hearts should not have stood.

The Nigerian player crashed high into the net at the beginning of the second half after getting his arms

involved in controlling a cross from Dujon Sterling, apparently wasting the opportunity before the ball came back to him.

The BBC analyst responded live on Sportsound on February 24.

Stewart was positive it was a handball, but Kenny Miller and Allan Preston couldn’t confirm during the

match commentary as to whether it had been handled or if it had initially come off his thigh.

But in the 48th minute of an incredible show, Don Robertson in the VAR room gave Nick Walsh the all-clear,

and the goal ultimately stood.

Miller stated at 4:11 p.m.: “I’m not too sure about that, but there might be a hint of handball.

” I believe it’s near on both hands, but it also has the potential to strike him in the thigh.

“But listen, he makes no mistake when he gets the second opportunity, smashes it into the roof of Zander Clark’s net.”

Preston added: “I think it’s very close. He might have controlled it on his thigh as Kenny said,

but his arms come together to try and control the ball. It’s whether it hits them or not.”

“It looks like it hits his hand,” Miller stated. It strikes his thigh and then may bounce off; to be honest, it might hit both arms.

Is it visible to Michael or not? I’m not sure.

Stewart replied: “Yeah for me it’s a handball all day long… it’s a handball.”

Don Robertson allows contentions Cyriel Dessers strike in big Rangers win

It looked a tight one and could have gone either way, but it was reviewed at some length and given so unless an official has

taken leave of his senses once again it must have been within the rules.

The importance of such decisions are often dismissed on the basis of the eventual result,

which frequently ignores the fact that the best team doesn’t always win every game.

However, in the conditions at Ibrox, this really would not have mattered because Dessers’ goal,

which he scored off a fantastic ball from John Souttar shortly before halftime,

had already put an end to the match for the invincible Gers.

After scoring his second, he should have been on his way to a hat-trick,

but on a day when he showed both his finest and worst traits while still finishing with a great performance,

he was unable to score a third.

Unlike the 2-1 triumph on October 29, Dessers also succeeded in outlasting his opponent Lawrence Shankland that day.

Although it could be argued that the Scot would have scored roughly five goals if he had been a Rangers player,

they most definitely didn’t miss him.

In other Rangers news, it appears that the team is rapidly approaching a “massive” £60 million move.