Watch David Turnbull’s penalty claim that VAR didn’t review
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Rangers - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - December 30, 2023 Rangers' Connor Goldson and Celtic's Hyeongyu Oh REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
While the Alistair Johnston handball and Abdallah Sima offside incident is poured over in forensic detail it seems that another penalty claim in the Glasgow Derby has largely gone unnoticed in the mainstream media.
Three minutes into the 10 of stoppage time that was played Mikey Johnston cut in from the left flank with David Turnbull moving into space in the penalty box to collect the return pass.
Johnston’s pass was perfectly timed, seeing the danger James Tavernier bundled into the back of the Celtic midfielder, sending him to the ground.
Nick Walsh never seemed to recognise the foul but as John Souttar raced out of the penalty box the referee noticed an offside flag from North Stand side assistant Callum Spence.
Look very closely as the linesman doesn’t flag for offside until well after Turnbull is fouled. Not before.
Yet that will be the excuse why it DIDNT go to VAR.
Should have went to VAR at least.The Celtic penalty shout v Rangers… eventually. pic.twitter.com/8a9pzSYLbo
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) December 30, 2023
The push into the back of Turnbull seemed fairly obvious, the offside call appeared to be wrong with Ridvan Yilmaz, closer to Spence playing Turnbull onside.
Willie Collum could have paused play to review the incident, if Turnbull was onside as appeared likely a pitchside review of Tavernier’s challenge could well have resulted in a penalty being awarded.
CLICK HERE to watch Sportscene highlights.