What VAR told ref about Livingston penalty claim at Rangers

With the scores at 1-1, Tete Yengi's strike hit the hand of fellow goalscorer Manny Fernandez but it came at him from close range and there was also a suggestion it may have hit his thigh first.

David Martindale was furious and claimed it was the type of decision that would've gone against his side at the other end.

At the time, the explanation given was that the ball had struck Fernandez's thigh before ricocheting onto his hand.

But Bartley has claimed he was given a slightly different reasoning by the officials.

The Livingston coach told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: "There are a lot of football fans that will agree (that it's a handball) as well, if they have seen the incident. A lot of people will be alarmed that VAR didn't intervene in this situation.

"When it happened in the game we were quite far away from it. Scott Pittman appeals for it, and he is one of the most honest footballers I know, and once he appealed for it we knew something was up.

"So we watched it back and for us, it's a blatant penalty at the side of the pitch. We then speak to the fourth official and he says 'oh, we are just going to play on.'

"So, the game plays out. The gaffer goes out to do the press and I manage to speak to the officials after the game and I asked them about the incident.

"I just asked them 'what was said to you guys?' and they said 'well, we were told the hand was in a natural position, and Fernandez was in close proximity to the ball when it was struck. So, there was nothing to be reviewed.'

"Anyone who has played football will tell you that's not a natural position for your left leg and your left arm to go up. The shot is definitely on target as well, so Jack Butland is going to have to pull off a save. And it's a handball.

"It’s not just because I am a coach at Livingston I am saying this. If it happens against Livingston I’m going to tell you exactly the same thing."