Michael Stewart has described the penalty awarded against Celtic today as ludicrous.
David Munro had already turned in a nervous looking first half when he chose to draw more attention to himself five minutes into the second period.
From around one yard away, at the side of the penalty box, the ball bounced up and off Matt O’Riley’s arm with the match still goal-less.
Munro pointed to the penalty spot, the VAR official could have got him out of bother but Ewan Anderson agreed with the decision with David Cancola opening the scoring from the penalty spot.
It was the fourth penalty conceded by Celtic in five SPFL matches with VAR in use, after the match Ange Postecoglou avoided comment on the incident but Stewart didn’t miss out when he appeared on Sportscene.
Watching the show, Football Scotland reported the former Hearts midfielder saying:
Seriously, how the referee gave it in the first place is astonishing and worse is how it can go to VAR and they can say, ‘yeah that’s the right call’.
I think it might actually come off his ribs before it comes off his arm, which would negate it in itself because it comes off another body part but irrespective of all that, his arm is literally tucked in by his side. What is he meant to do?
It’s so ludicrous that I don’t know what else you can say on the situation.
Ange Postecoglou obviously not wanting to talk about it now which is easier to do because they’ve won the game, and it’s a good answer.
I don’t think it’s just lines because I think he does just focus purely on the football but were one of these incidents to affect the result, I’m not sure you can ignore it. And the real concern is that inevitably one week, once of these incidents will cost.
Should Celtic publish the reply from the SFA over the Jota VAR decision?
No, this has to be kept confidential
Yes, supporters deserve an explanation
Fortunately goals from David Turnbull and Sead Haksabanovic ensured Celtic picked up full points but after 14 wins from 15 matches VAR seems to be causing the hoops more problems than most SPFL opponents.
They already have affected games! Hearts never got a penalty at ibrox for a handball, granted it may not have been converted, however not giving it affected the game.
We’re getting NUTHING fae these CORRUPT HUN Refs, every game we’ve a pen awarded against us & the FILTH get one awarded for!!
Corrupt cheating refs thats afact and its gonnae cost celtic points somewhere along the road the board will say nothing as usual dirty cowards.
Corrupt officials in Scotland protecting the team from Govan.
Match fixing is also a possibility.
We need the lawyers and investigators brought in.
Fergus would have acted straight away. He was right on top of these bigots and racists.
So many obstacles to dodge but 9 points ahead-truly unbelievable!!
The ranger footy klub are truly a pile of GiK..
The board needs someone as loyal to our cause as Fergus the bunnet was ,he would have called all this cheating out for what it is . Unfortunately our board are so mired in all this 5 way agreement shit ,the SFA and the SPFL our board are just as complicit in the old going for 55 , because our board are just as rotten and corrupt as the ipox board,and the SFA have got us by the balls, only in bigoted corrupt orange masonic jockland.
Not to mention the shove on Ralston, the time wasting and major stoppages x3 in first half with only 90secs added on, (keeper eventually booked for it), the keeper putting the ball down then picking it up again, the R.C player allowed to stay on the park after treatment and join an attack in Celtic box whilst Giakoumakis forced off and delay waving him back on, plus usual honest mistakes with throw-ins and corners denied, most obvious by linesman 3 feet from Maeda, etc, etc,
Lets just call them what they are, Cheats !!! Corrupt with no conscience.
Well hopefully VAR sorts out the cheating from our corrupt officials even at liebrox mr clancy books diving kent but guess whos on VAR at liebrox yes ur right mr Andrew Dallas told clancy that it was a penalty i would say diving kent did take a dive especially the way he went Scottish football is embarrassing now honest the fans will have to something our just let it go its been going on for years im 60 and its still carrying on and thats with VAR will they corrupt bastards at hampden sfa.spfl put a stop to it eh.