Ange Postecoglou wasn’t entertaining any suggestion that VAR had worked in Celtic’s favour in the 5-1 win over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup.
There was a lengthy delay before Daizen Maeda’s 15th minute goal was allowed the stand but 20 minutes from the final whistle there was a bigger controversy.
Once again in a Scottish Cup tie Steven McLean failed to notice a goalbound Celtic effort being blocked by an arm.
This one wasn’t as obvious as the Josh Meekings incident in 2015 but play was halted, the players stood around for a few minutes then McLean went over to the pitchside monitor to review the passage of play.
After about one minute he decided that it was a penalty to Celtic with Richard Taylor sent off for deliberate handball.
It seems that some in the media view the correct decision being made as VAR doing Celtic a favour, Kheredine Idessane of BBC Scotland put that view to the Celtic boss afterwards.
20 minutes into the Sportsound podcast
That’s an interesting take. I don’t know if there’s a favour barometer, I’m just thinking they’re making decisions. I had my say about VAR a few weeks ago and everyone came at me that I was fuelling conspiracies, so I’ll let the other managers now run the race. I had my say on it.
I assume the result of the decisions today were correct. If they weren’t correct and as you say they were ‘favourable’ to us, whatever that means, let others judge.
Replying to Idessane’s follow up the Celtic boss added:
When you talk about a favour, that means we get a decision we’re not supposed to, which has not happened to us. The time it takes is a frustration for everyone at the moment but I’ve had my say on it. There are others in charge of that department.
“There are others in charge of that department.” Now there’s an interesting quote,
So, it’s a favour if the rules are correctly applied.
BBC radio team were a joke. They didn’t know the rule that if you prevent a goal with your hand it’s a penalty and a sending off. They are a disgrace.
Even before that when the referee went over to view the monitor they were complaining that the referee was under pressure because he was reviewing it surrounded by Celtic fans as if at all other grounds they review in a vacuum.
To not even know the rules of the sport you make a living from sums up the state of Scottish punditry.
Kheredine Idessane, I can’t stand the guy. A soup-taker at Radio Scotland. If we never heard from the guy again, would anybody notice?
Do we ever score a goal that isn’t checked…
As for the penalty.
It hit both defenders hands ffs…