GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 18: Match referee Kevin Clancy is seen during the Premier Sports Cup match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on August 18, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Stuart Kettlewell has hit out at the VAR tag-team that denied Motherwell a 3-1 lead against Phil Clement’s exciting young side and saved the blushes of Jack Butland.
Leading 201 midway through the first half the former Crystal Palace reserve panicked under pressure and punched an Andy Halliday corner into his own net.
Noting the seriousness of the situation Clancy awarded a free kick just off the goal-line while dismissing the pleas of the Motherwell players.
Replays showed minimal contact with Tony Watt, Butland was more aggressive than the Motherwell striker but Steven McLean on VAR duty refused to over-rule the decision or suggest a touchline review.
Asked if he felt that Butland had got out of jail Kettlewell told the Daily Record:
I think that’s fair to say. I’m just left bemused by the on-field decision. For me it’s complete over-protection of a goalkeeper.
I saw an incident a few weeks ago involving Tottenham when they scored direct from a corner and there’s a similar type of incident. What do they do down south? Have a quick look, give the goal and carry on with the rest of the game.
Down there, there’s no over-protection of the goalkeeper but for some reason here, we’ve decided that there’s enough to merit a free kick.
Up here Clancy is desperate to get back on the rota involved in refereeing the Glasgow Derby after missing out on the last eight fixtures.
Disallowing a ‘goal’ from Alfredo Morelos in April 2022 upset the Ibrox club with Clancy left out of high profile matches throughout last season.
With the pressure piling up on Phil Clement defeat today at Motherwell could have been near fatal for the Belgiam Beale, within 10 minutes of disallowing Butland own goal Hamza Igamane had equalised to salvage a point for Clement’s side.
Clancy is unlikely to be involved in Thursday’s Glasgow Derby but after today’s performance he is bound to be back in contention for future Derby appointments.
?? “I don’t think it was a clear & obvious error by Kevin Clancy”
Motherwell had this goal disallowed against Rangers. Your thoughts? ? pic.twitter.com/opG5toX054
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 29, 2024
Lol has anyone seen that FUD Tom English since the CHEATS went 14 points behind the Champions today.
Apparently him and Benny McKintyre have been posted missing.
I wonder how they will put a positive spin on this result today.
The ARSEHOLES in the media had gap being cut to 6 points after the game on Thursday,now it’s 14 points.
I wonder how long now fir statement o’clock from ibrox to the SFA/SPFL regarding the VAR officials today.
Cheatin bastards
What Stevie Bhoy said…
Surely Motherwell will demand an explanation for this decision ?….All of Europe is talking about it….Only a full inquest will sort this out…Over to you Motherwell.
Or Gordon Duncan on Clyde Superscoreboard tomorrow night…
That’ll tell if he’s a (rightfully) irate ‘Motherwell’ fan or not –
Should be awesome listening regardless !!!
The other side of the coin is, Clancy knows what he would experience if the goal had stood.
Yes, most of the refs are shite, yes, some of the refs are biased, but that lot have managed to put fear into decision making.
Maybe its time to retrospectively change results for “ clear and obvious “ errors, but then….who would decide that?
I used to think Italian football was crooked…
I do not support either of these teams and i watched it in live play and in slow motion and i never saw anything wrong with the goal, Butland made a mistake and the refaree bailed him out