Clear, obvious, embarrassing- former Celt hits out at Willie Collum’s penalty call
John Hartson never shirked a challenge on the football pitch and takes the same attitude into punditry.
During the World Cup the Welshman was on duty in Qatar for ITV, watching how the best in the business operate with the latest technology available to ensure that the correct decisions are arrived at.
Yesterday Hartson watched the showpiece fixture of Scottish football played with the assistance of VAR for the very first time.
For most Celtic fans the decision making was worst than ever. No longer can the old excuse be made that decisions are made in a split second with a referee having to make big calls at high speed. VAR is there as back up, a tool to ensure the right decision and the right outcome.
Listening to Hartson on Go Radio, the Daily Record reports the Welshman saying:
We said this before the game, we didn’t want to be in this situation (talking about VAR). The problem is it’s clear and obvious. It hit his (Goldson) arm. Natural, your arms are by your side.
Unnatural is when your hands are up in the air. How on earth the penalty is not given I will never, ever know. We’re all thinking in here that it’s a penalty. Where is John Beaton’s positioning?
Ok, you can say he missed it, but Willie Collum on VAR, how many times do you have to see it? Rangers will feel aggrieved they didn’t win the game, but that decision to not give a penalty for handball by Connor Goldson is embarrassing.
Should Michael Nicholson demand publication of conversations between Collum and Beaton?
Yes, we must have clarity and accountability
No, lets give VAR time to get over teething troubles
After 20 SPFL Premiership matches Celtic have had five penalties awarded against them, in the same number of matches no penalties have been awarded against the Ibrox club.