Former Scotland international has called for a rule change after the controversial penalty incident involving Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu during Wales’ defeat against Belgium.
It was a mixed night for Leeds’ Welsh contingent, and Joe Rodon helped Wales get off to a dream start, heading home to give his side an early lead.
However, the game was soon turned on its head as Ethan Ampadu was penalised for a controversial handball in the box, causing a wave of anger among Wales fans.
Wales would go on to lose the game 4-2, as Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow endured a torrid night. But the game undoubtedly changed with the decision to award a penalty against the Leeds captain.
Now, McCoist has launched a passionate defence of the Leeds man, explaining why he believes the penalty decision was “unbelievably harsh”.
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Ally McCoist defends Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu
Ampadu was the victim of a harsh decision, as the ball struck his arm at close range from a Belgian shot from inside the area.
Speaking on TalkSport Breakfast on the morning of 14th October, McCoist called for the handball rule to be reviewed, citing concerns that attackers could deliberately strike the ball at defenders’ arms in the penalty area.
McCoist said: “The first penalty, [Bellamy has] come out and said they have to do something about the handball rule. I’ve said that, I don’t know how long I’ve said it for, maybe 18 months. I don’t know what Ampadu is meant to do with his hand.
“I mean, it’s got to the stage, it’s the first time it’s made me think good players could get into the box and flick it up off somebody’s hand and get a penalty. They could, because I think that is unbelievably harsh.
“[It killed the] momentum. Wales started brilliantly, Joe Rodon’s header, and the whole place just erupted. And it does change the game. Absolutely just takes the sting, takes the momentum, everything out of the game. I felt for them at that point because I think it’s extremely harsh, I really do.”
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What did Craig Bellamy say about the penalty against Ethan Ampadu?
Although the Wales boss was magnanimous in defeat, he did take the opportunity to question the application of the handball rule.
Speaking in the Independent, Bellamy explained that the European implementation of the rule was usually different from the one applied in the Premier League.
However, according to Bellamy, it should not be the case that the ball striking the hand is automatically punished, as he said: “Maybe we need to do something different over here because they’re not our rules.
“We’ve got more common sense, but I have watched plenty of Champions League football games to know. I don’t know where you’re supposed to put your hands.
“But if it goes anywhere near your hands, then it’s straight away a pen, which I don’t believe is the way the game should be.”
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