Ally McCoist claims Rangers Champions League ref had 'no balls' as Chris Sutton VAR debate descends into meltdown

Raging Ally McCoist has went on the offensive after Rangers ' were controversially punished by VAR during the Champions League defeat to Union Saint Gilloise.

It was a disastrous night in Leuven for Gio van Bronckhorst's side in the first leg of their third round qualifier leaving last season's Europa League finalists with a 2-0 deficit to overturn at Ibrox in Tuesday's return fixture. While the Light Blues didn't hit the standards they set during the run to Seville the tie remains alive going into the clash as they look to secure a playoff against PSV or Monaco.

It was a night mired in controversy after a VAR check for handball was made after Connor Goldson appeared to handle following a ricochet off teammate Ben Davies. Referee Irfan Peljto ran across to his monitor to review the incident, and inexplicably pointed to the spot before Dante Vanzeir to fire the ball into the net.

McCoist conceded on BT Sport's Scottish Football Extra that the performance wasn't good enough. However, he couldn't help but vent on the big call from the man in the middle.

Celtic hero Chris Sutton jokingly started with a jibe stating: "From the angle I saw it looked like a stonewaller." Before adding: "Rangers are lucky in a way to be in it, but maybe that it a huge moment for Rangers and their qualification into the Champions League."

McCoist took the bait as he said: "One of the reasons I am looking forward to VAR coming to Scotland. Honest to God, that's actually embarrassing how a referee can walk over, look at a monitor - see if he makes the decision, and he gets it wrong I can accept that because we all make mistakes. But you can't walk over to a monitor, look at it four or five times and decide that's a penalty.

"That's an act of