Hearts had huge penalty appeals turned down after an alleged handball by Rangers midfielder Connor Barron.

The Ibrox midfielder, 21, feared a nightmare start in his competitive debut as passionate claims for a spot-kick erupted inside Tynecastle.

However, referee Nick Walsh waved away the handball incident - after Yan Dhanda's cross - with no VAR review advised.

Neil McCann on commentary for Sky Sports suggested Barron was relieved after the incident but James McFadden reckons the decision is a sign of the new handball guidelines this season.

"Because of how close his arm is to his body, the close proximity to the ball," said McFadden when asked why a penalty was not given.

"Last season, Neil said it on commentary, without a doubt that would have been given.

"The referees are wanting to have a look at it and I think it is right that they look at it, the main point would be as long as that is consistent throughout the season then fair enough.

"You can see his arm is close to his body. He does push his hand up. Personally, I thought it was a penalty at the time but I understand the way the referees are going to look at these decisions and not give them.

"The most important thing is that continues throughout the season."

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New Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum previously confirmed there would be fewer VAR interventions over handball as he insisted a football understanding would be applied on handball decisions.

Collum explained: "We know last season there was a lot of debate, a lot of controversy in the media and by spectators on handball.

"We have tried to re-align our handball interpretation more in line with a football expectation and football understanding but with the support of the referees and also the support of the clubs and the coaches.

"We think we are in a better place with that and there will be a better approach taken to not only handball but the intervention of VAR round about handball.

He added: "We want to make that much more related to football expectation.

"There won't be as many interventions for handball."