Chris Sutton spoke for many Celtic fans today as VAR made its domestic debut in Scottish football.
There were three big decisions to be made during the first half- all three went against Celtic. VAR was correct to award Hearts a 43rd minute penalty but two decisions either side of that defied logic.
Celtic beat Hearts and VAR today…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) October 22, 2022
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In the 20th minute, with Celtic leading 1-0 Tony Ralston dived full length to head in a free-kick from Aaron Mooy. A moment before the vital contact referee Nick Walsh blew for a foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis, according to all the instructions VAR would allow incidents to be played out before a decision is taken on whether the goal stands or not.
Worse was to follow in the final minute of first half stoppage time, as James Forrest played the ball into the penalty box Michael Smith raised his right arm to block the ball. Walsh appeared to miss it, McLean reviewed it and decided that there was no penalty.
Mc Lean’s brother played for the old rangers. Walsh has an ongoing connection with sevco through his employment. Both should automatically be barred from officiating in ANY capacity, in games involving Celtic and sevco, due to being compromised, quite apart from the perception of bias.
That they aren’t is scandalous.
The fact that our club has remained silent on the issue of cheating and bias for DECADES is baffling to me…
Exactly why I chuckled going after 25 years Reddo – I didn’t regret ma decision at the time Doncaster said Sevco are the same club – Absolutely… and I sure as hell don’t today for sure…
Should the board grow to the colours the should of Green, White and Gold as they should instead of cowardly yellow then I’d maybe reconsider…
But as sure as night follows day or as sure as Rangers are dead – it ain’t gonna happen !
Well, if semi-final-steve says it’s not a penalty … then it definetily IS a penalty!
Doesn’t matter what tech you use, if it’s still the same corrupt lodge brethren operating it that we’ve had officiating on the pitch for decades now. That was a blatant handball and still they didn’t give it, but they did give them two, including a retake because THEIR player encroached FFS. Shankland also offside at his other “goal”, but lines drawn at an angle that bore no relation to the pitch to make it look onside. We have two perfectly good goals disallowed too. First team to get a goal disallowed by VAR in Scotland and first team to be awarded a penalty against by VAR. We’ve not had a pen since April in any competition. TavPen FC on the other hand. Said all along this would happen, but even I didn’t think it would be this blatant and this bad. Celtic 4 VAR 3.
Well said bribhoy
you would have to be blind not to see the hand ball
Only to be expected, Smith was definitely a hand ball but the blinkers got put on..I am sure we won’t be the only team to be screwed by VAR this season…Livingston got screwed today at castle greyskull..no surprises so far..
Ref might as well wear a blue shirt. This is going to happen again and again. Players have to keep their cool with this bullshit,
Its actually beyond belief that this is the guys we could be putting in charge of deciding this league but we will win it anyway hail hail
Mclean is a cheat
Are we really surprised. Same man gives ‘rangers’ a penalty last week for absolutely nothing. It’s how it is. Us against them.