Blundering referee Euan Norris told Celtic players that he awarded a penalty against Victor Wanyama for handball as Hearts beat Celtic 2-1 in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup at Hampden.
The decision cost Celtic the chance to take the match into extra-time and keep alive their hopes of an SPL and Scottish Cup double.
Marius Zaliukas’ shot from the edge of the penalty area struck Joe Ledley standing just two yards away from the shot.
Amazingly, despite some very obvious physical differences, Norris told Celtic players that the decision was given against Wanyama for handball.
After the match Celtic boss Neil Lennon tweeted: “Referee told players he thought Wanyama handled…feel so sorry for players and fans..I think it’s personal myself.”
Rangers v CELTIC Glasgow Cup Final, kick off 7pm, Ibrox April 16
Midfielder Ledley added: “Can’t believe the decisions made on the pitch today. Was never a pen.”
Adding confusion to the issue Ledley added: “This Sums it up, he thought it hit Victors arm.”
What was that about goin to specsavers.
Separated at birth ?
There is a story here.
I got a txt about an hour after the game saying that ref admitted he didn’t see incident.
Though from an impeccable source I didn’t give it much further thought.
Then I saw Joe Ledleys tweet.
There is also a still picture and you can look at video to see position of ref.
His view is blocked by a hearts player standing on the 18 yard line.
So I went back to my source who confirmed what ref said.
From all of the above it’s clear that Norris was told to give penalty which he had not seen. He couldn’t identify who handled the ball as he didn’t know so assumed it was Victor who was near to Ledley.
Will we be told who gave the penalty given that Norris didn’t see it?
Is it just me or does this story have a familiar ring to it?
Peter Lawwell has got to take this case all the way . F@ck the MIB let them go on strike.
I just want honesty & transparency! I was confused by what I’d been told until I read Joe Ledleys tweet.
We need an explanation!
the ref should hang his head in shame ,its the old saying if cant see it you cant give it,but then again as before its against the champions so give it anyway,then admit later on that he made a mistake,the sfa have to look at these all important incidents and bring replays on camera into the game,,its blatant cheating and has to be stamped out of spl football,,refs should also be accountable for costly errors ,after all they moaned about their wages ,then got a massive hik,they should be fined for inconcistant decisions
After the match, the Radio Clyde mob, to a man, were adamant about the following incidents in the game:
1: Hearts thoroughly deserved the win just as Killie had in the league cup final.
2: Hooper’s goal should have been chopped off for offside.
3: The Hearts penalty was a stonewaller.
4: Our’s wasn’t as it “hit Webster on the side”.
5: Lenny should be keelhauled by the SFA.
6: Sergio Paulo was “a decent guy” (Duh…would Kenny Shiels agree with that???).
7: Celtic fans need to “be good losers”.
No change from Messrs Delahunt, McCall, Wishart and Dalzell, then, eh? Wonder what the common denominator is between those four?
Even Jim (I never DID get a game with Celtic) Duffy made out that Hearts were “deserved winners”.
Funny, that, when you actually check all the game’s statistics. The only one which Celtic did not better Hearts in was the “Fouls conceded” category.
Nae wunner we’re “paranoid”, huh???
The good thing is, those plebs won’t all be in a job next season when the Rangers Cheerleader Association face cutbacks.
Is there a referee in the whole country who’s not either bent or useless, or both ?
No.
I read that 2 assistants who made errors in the EPL last week have been demoted for the remainder of the season. Will we see the same fate befall Mr. Norris or will he get another big game ……I wonder 🙂
Kenny Clark….where are you
A referee can’t give a penalty unless he is 100% certain
At least he got the BIG decisions right !!!
A good referee is barely seen
They will circle the wagons Lennon will get blame!
Norris didn’t give penalty we need to know who did!
I’ve just looked again at the replay, painful though it was, and the bottom line is that, at the crucial moment, the referee’s view was totally blocked by a Hearts player, and all he does is react to their appeals for the penalty and awards it!
Also, the really galling fact is that had the ball not been blasted against Joe from only two yards, the view from behind the goal shows that it would have been about ten feet wide of the target – what a p*sser!!!
Yes, ref can’t wait to give them a penalty, can’t wait to Not give use one. Like British boxers fighting in America: ”you’ve got to knock ’em out to get a draw” Having said that, once again our strikers, much as I love them, missed very important sitters. We shouldn’t be relying on defenders digging us out of the shit. Also, Ki had two of the best chances and our goal WAS offside. Big game mentality????
Actually Wanyama did handle the ball. Still never a penalty but it wasnt a case of mistaken identity.
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3359/48858099.gif
Your right, but his wasn’t deliberate either.
Ball to hand. Absolute schoolboy “honest mistake”. If a referee cannot get such a basic call like that correct, they have no business on the pitch.
One thing missing pen claim when ki was felled in box total anti celtic decisions