It seems that the accepted narrative from the weekend is to put all VAR mistakes down to teething troubles and point the finger at anyone highlighting the failings of match officials.
For the media it seems to be great entertainment, creating plenty of talking points and for some to accuse Celtic fans of paranoia. It is a lazy claim to make by the people that won’t go near examining the Michael Smith handball at Tynecastle or multiple other issues in Scottish football.
Celtic have played 11 matches so far in the SPFL Premiership with Nick Walsh and Steven McLean directly in charge of four of those matches. Their last penalty was in April despite averaging more than three goals per game this season.
On Saturday Nick Walsh was within 10 yards of Michael Smith raising his left arm to block a cross into the penalty box by James Forrest. For his own reasons he didn’t want to point to the penalty spot, he was sure enough later in the match when Moritz Jenz tripped Cammy Devlin to provide Hearts with their second penalty of the afternoon.
What went through Walsh’s mind, why didn’t he award Celtic a penalty, what conversation did he have with McLean?
? Ange Postecoglou couldn’t believe it when Celtic were not awarded a penalty after claims for a handball against Michael Smith. Was that the right call? ?? pic.twitter.com/aY9LoXrnsX
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 22, 2022
Should Celtic ask for publication of VAR conversations between McLean and Walsh?
Yes, it will help fans understand decision making
Teething troubles, we have to trust SFA officials
Last week many media outlets trotted along for meetings with Crawford Allan- it remains to be seen how many will ask him questions about the Celtic penalty and whether Allan will speak out about it as he did last year when Kyogo Furuhashi scored against Robbie Neilson’s mob.
When Hearts scored their second goal through Lawrence Shankland, Sky Sports were able to broadcast the VAR lines to justify the decision to allow the goal to stand.
Late in the match Liel Abada netted only to see David Roome, a close friend of Bobby Madden, raise his flag for offside. Strangely, more than a day after that incident no VAR lines have been published to justify the decision.
Watching EPL matches over the weekend every VAR decision was justified with back up evidence. Clearly by showing the lines to justify Shankland scoring Hearts second goal the SFA has the technology- strangely they will only share that selectively.
Abada’s offside decision explained by Clyde SSB.
Weirdly they agreed with the ref and VAR concluding that it was offside in spite of explaining why it should have stood. pic.twitter.com/7IzYnSELFk
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) October 23, 2022
The Biased Agenda. only in Scotland.
Stop the batching stop the bitching we are getting SHAFTED right left and centre and our BOARD do F**K all about it get used to MUGS.
The were talking about the 2 lines on SSB as if they were there for all to see, but they weren’t, and haven’t been shown anywhere, Why not? What have they got to hide.
If Abada’s goal was offside, show us the proof.
Save Scottish football.
Expose the cheats.