Chris Sutton gave Don Robertson a back-handed compliment as he reversed two penalty calls during Celtic’s 2-0 win away to Dundee United.
Late in the first half the match referee pointed to the penalty spot when Kyogo Furuhashi was cleared out by United keeper Mark Birighitti.
Once both players had recovered from treatment Robertson checked with the pitch-side monitor and reversed his decision.
Display of real authority from Celtic. Callum McGregor 400 up a terrific servant to Celtic?? Fair play to Don Robertson going to the monitor twice and making the correct call twice. There have been referees who absolutely melt when going over to the monitor…
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) January 29, 2023
Ten minutes after the break Kieran Freeman raised his right arm to block a pass from Jota into the penalty box, surprisingly Robertson waved play on despite being close to the incident.
Once play had stopped he was sent back to the monitor, reversed his second decision of the day with Aaron Mooy scoring from the spot to put Celtic 2-0 in front, restoring their nine point lead at the top of the SPFL Premiership.
Freeman had been booked in the first half but escaped further punishment for a deliberate handball.
I still feel that the first penalty should have been given for the pull and push on Kyogo from Smith. Why Freeman wasn’t sent off when he had been booked already for a deliberate handball. Concerned that might not give penalty for handball after the Hearts Smith handball that wasn’t given.
VAR needs to be working quicker and refs need to explain decisions, too easy for them to walk away.
Collums review of VAR yesterday was a shocker, he sent Clark off for very little and reviewed decision on Montgomery and stuck with his decision, an absolute clown ??.