The absolutely random and arbitary award of penalties continued at Ibrox yesterday.
Since the World Cup break it seemed that there had been a relaxing of the handball rule that had resulted in penalties being awarded against Matt O’Riley and Alexandro Bernabei in the first weeks of VAR.
In the first match back James Sands escaped unpunished when he raised an arm to prevent the ball reaching a Hibs forward, Nick Walsh waved play on, within 15 minutes the home side scored twice to turn the match around.
A week later at Aberdeen James Tavernier swung his arm at a dangerous cross, knocked it onto the post and the danger was cleared. Willie Collum waved play on, as he did when Connor Goldson’s arm provided the assist for Scott Arfield’s winner in the 97th minute of the match.
Goldson also escaped a handball claim when Carl Starfelt shot at Ibrox in the Glasgow derby, John Beaton was the match referee, Collum on VAR.
Rangers penalty v St Johnstone pic.twitter.com/D6GKzPHHNL
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) January 28, 2023
Yesterday Collum seemed to have a change of approach. When a cross was fired into the St Johnstone penalty box three players were near the ball, it bounced off Goldson’s back and up onto the arm of James Brown with the match referee pointing to the penalty spot.
It seems that referees have discrecion on the day with the same referee coming to different conclusions over very similar incidents.
Goldson handball penalty shout etc etc etc for Dundee United. pic.twitter.com/CKrW1qSf5c
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) January 8, 2023
Some people say Goldson’s handball wasn’t a penalty because if the ball is hit towards a player from a very short distance, putting their hands up instinctively to protect their face is allowed. The problem is that Goldson clearly puts his hands up before Starfelt kicks the ball. pic.twitter.com/jkLRTOd7g1
— OzricAurora52??????????????????? (@Aurora5710) January 4, 2023
Aberdeen penalty shout for Tavernier handball.
???? pic.twitter.com/Fd2QDzMcbG— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) December 20, 2022
If the sfa , the spfl , or the Celtic board wont address these acts of blatant cheating and corruption , then ,,,, it’s only a matter of time before people take matters in to their own hands .
Var video advantage rangers
Surely this cheating can’t go on,because you bet this is cheating in a big way.
Not just Celtic all the clubs.
Sack the SFA and Maxwell,Bring in a private company,also foreign referees,till at such time we can sort the mess out.
Editor: Sadly all clubs are very comfortable with levelling up, makes the title race more exciting than Celtic 18 points clear and Hearts pushing for second.
Surely this cheating can’t go on,because you bet this is cheating in a big way.
Not just Celtic all the clubs.
Sack the SFA and Maxwell,Bring in a private company,also foreign referees,till at such time we can sort the mess out.
What is so annoying is the acceptance of other clubs when they play the zombies and are victims of decisions blatantly to the advantage of the establishment team. I don’t read other clubs fans forums either, but I assume their conclusion on pro zombies decisions is the same as ours too. What astounds me in the modern game, is the financial and economic disadvantage these decisions have on clubs and individuals (players penalised and managers potentially sacked), all because one club has to maintain its ‘status’. Like Celtic board, those of other clubs are equally guilty of not only challenging this feature of our game robustly, but stamping it out.
Look at the SFA, the acumen of their board members, not a real person of business substance amongst them. Yet, these low intellect fkw@ts have an unparalleled control on the game here.
Which begs the question, who really are the fkw@ts? Clearly, it’s us, the fans, the clubs which allow this.
It doesn’t help when so many clubs have sevco minded on their boards and amongst team managers. Their ‘loyalty’ towards the zombie klub overrides their integrity and responsibility to their own teams. How pathetic that it in 2023.
My own personal thoughts are that things here are unfixable unless there is a collective strategy determined to tackle it. But there never will be. As such, I think Celtic should look at any way possible of leaving Scottish football. Whether that be an Atlantic league or entry into the EFL, where we’d have to work out way up.
Anything would be better than playing in a rigged league, watching and absorbing this systematic SFA sponsored cheating.
That brings me to another point. Illegal betting. 40 games without a penalty awarded against them domestically. With a previous run of 44. These have got to be world records in professional senior football. If I was a bookmaker I would be paying attention to this fantastic anomaly. Not just about refs favouring the zombies, incredible statistics such as these, may have been achieved with another objective in mind.
Editor: No club accepts more honest mistakes than Celtic, if they stay silent to protect their beloved O** F*** brand why should St Johnstone or Ross County challenge the set up?
I get you JM, but surely European football is more financially lucrative for Celtic than maintaining the OF brand. I suppose in a sense, you’ve hit on why other clubs don’t challenge it either. The cash flow into these clubs from visiting fans of the OF brand is possibly what helps to keep some of them afloat. So probably why they meekly accept the biased refereeing also.
Definitely reaffirms my belief we’re better out of Scotland.
Editor: European football requires effort, hard work, planning and a deep knowledge of football. Managing the O** F*** requires virtually nothing, it is just there, if you are fairly competent you are ahead of the other mob who will require additional levelling up to be competitive.
Back to the CFC board then. Fans ambitions re fairness, integrity and European advancement will forever remain a pipe dream, completely at contrast with the board’s presbyterian parochial approach.
Re fair refereeing. What an indictment that an acceptance of cheating outweighs a determination to deliver fairness and integrity. We’re all effectively demanding a seat at the back of the bus.
However, despite playing in a rigged game, the consolation being a Celtic fan, is we can still be top dogs in this backwater by doing what we do best. Playing good football without any advantage. And that must kill that hoard.