Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has questioned the VAR decision that denied his side a late winner in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The result leaves Kilmarnock 12th in the Premiership on five points after seven games, with their next challenge a trip to second-placed Rangers on October 10.

The disallowed goal

Laurent Mendy’s shot was headed on by Cathal McCarthy towards the Kilmarnock goal, but referee Duncan Nicolson disallowed the effort after VAR official Matthew MacDermid intervened. The officials ruled that Mendy had handled the ball in the build-up. Vrancken approached Nicolson after the final whistle to discuss the application of the handball law.

"Yes. I just wanted to speak and know the rule because maybe I was wrong," Vrancken said. "He said, ‘I just got in my ear that the goalscorer touched the ball with his hand.’ Like I said, it's not him to blame at this moment, it's a VAR decision. So it was really strange. I'm curious about the explanation of the SFA."

The IFAB rule debate

International Football Association Board (IFAB) laws state a goal can be ruled out for handball only if the player who scores handles the ball deliberately, or if the ball goes directly into the goal after touching their hand or arm. The rules clarify it is not an offence if the ball hits the hand or arm immediately after being played by another part of the same player's body, unless they score directly from that contact.

This interpretation was highlighted in a similar incident during Manchester United's 5-2 win over Ipswich Town last season. Harry Maguire's shot struck his own arm before deflecting off an opponent and into the net. The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel supported the decision to award the goal by a 4-1 vote, noting the contact was accidental and Maguire was not the scorer.

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher explained the logic. "It's definitely the right decision," Gallagher said. "It strikes his hand, but striking his hand isn't an offence in itself."

Kilmarnock's perspective

For Kilmarnock, the decision preserved a hard-earned point at home. Stephen Kingsley's 86th-minute equaliser for Hearts had cancelled out an own goal from Jamie McCart in the 16th minute. The draw extends Killie's recent run to one win, three draws and one loss in their last five Premiership matches, a sequence you can review on our standings page.

The point keeps Derek McInnes's side above the relegation zone, though they have conceded 15 goals in seven league games. They will look to tighten up defensively ahead of the visit to Ibrox, a fixture detailed in our fixtures list. The squad will have a break to prepare after a busy spell that included a 1-0 win at Hibernian and consecutive draws with Aberdeen.

More detail at Edinburgh News