John Souttar sparks Rangers penalty inquisition as echoes of scathing VAR statements heard in Philippe Clement support

The Light Blues went on to win 3-1 against Kilmarnock despite ref John Beaton pointing to the spot.

Philippe Clement was left fuming after Rangers conceded a penalty - and he has received support after swirling claims of "inconsistency" in big refereeing calls this term.

John Souttar was penalised after a cross from Kilmarnock’s Rory McKenzie struck the arm of the backtracking defender after referee John Beaton was sent to the monitor by Nick Walsh in the VAR room The spot kick was the first Rangers had conceded in the league in 74 SPFL games with Danny Armstrong converting during the 3-1 Scottish Premiership defeat - but Clement was angered after Celtic defender Alistair Johnston escaped an alleged handball against Rangers on derby day.

The Belgian conceded he was struggling to understand the handball rule - which followed concerns over the consistency of decisions from the club released in a series of club statements. And speaking on Sportscene, former Rangers goalkeeper Cammy Bell admitted he could see the bosses point behind his anger at the full-time whistle.

Asked if he felt Clement was right to have a gripe over the decision, Bell responded: "Yes and no. What I see is that I think John Souttar is aware of his body position and his arm position. When you see the close up he is sliding in with his right leg leading.

"His right arm is obviously going to go with the right leg. The fact for me that it hits his hand is probably why the referee has decided that it has to be a penalty kick, but for me I think it is very harsh on John Souttar. He is doing his best to try and keep it in but the inconsistency is probably Philippe Clement's biggest frustration."

Queen of the South boss Marvin Barley added: 'His arm is always going to go that way. Because he goes down with his right leg his right arm is always going to come up, that is a natural position for me from a defensive player. But I understand in the modern game it's going to be a penalty kick."

Former Ibrox frontman Stephen Thomson rounded off with an echo of the gripes raised by the Light Blues: "I guess the frustrating thing for managers is the inconsistency thing. We have seen penalties given for very similar, and not given for very similar things this season."