For the second week running a dubious VAR decision was called against Celtic.
Last Saturday Greg Aitken got the squiggly lines out, froze the action after the ball had been struck and decided that Adam Idah was offside in the build up to a ‘goal’ from Daizen Maeda. John Beaton happily disallowed it.
At Hampden today Andrew Dallas was on VAR when James Forrest was sent tumbling in the penalty box.
The Celtic winger firstly had to take evasive action from one challenge to avoid injury, that was followed by by an attempted forearm smash that Forrest managed to cushion before losing his balance and hitting the turf.
Calum Scott instantly awarded a penalty, but then came the break as Dallas got to work trying to find a reason to over rule.
As play is slowed down and viewed from different angles the fouls on Forrest become more obvious, he is trying to stay on his feet, he is desperate to score for a 16th successive season.
After a consultation Scott goes to the pitchside monitor, returns to the pitch and restarts the match with a drop ball in St Johnstone’s favour.
James Forrest penalty given by ref Callum Scott after getting forearmed in the face running into the box. Andrew Dallas on VAR overturned it as ‘clear & obvious error’ to give a penalty. Wouldn’t be Scottish football without an absurd decision from the Referees at some point… pic.twitter.com/2e93zQA1Eu
— The Global Tablet of Jurisprudence (@gtj1247) April 20, 2025
A few minutes earlier VAR had rightly disallowed a wonder ‘goal’ from McKenzie Kirk after a two handed push on Adam Idah in the build up.
It was tough luck on Kirk who probably hit the best shot of his career only to have the consolation taken away for the stupidity of a team-mate.
It isn’t too far fetched to conclude that the Forrest penalty was over-ruled to level up with St Johnstone on the Kirk ‘goal’.
Dallas and Aitken are the two remaining full-time VAR officials, Celtic are likely to see much more of them in the remaining weeks of the season.
Penalty Drama for Celtic ??
Forrest tried to explore through St Johnstone defenders and was awarded a penalty, but it was eventually taken away ?#ScottishCup is LIVE on Paramount+ ? pic.twitter.com/ok6zCAwPdX
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) April 20, 2025
Didn’t see at the time but he’s been forearm smashed in the side of the face as well as tripped and off balance.
How have VAR possibly deemed that a clear and obvious error to disallow the penalty? No wonder Forrest was baffled. https://t.co/G4dfO4G18N pic.twitter.com/AVwRTzez5u
— ?? ? (@p_bov1) April 20, 2025
To many rogues with brogues in our game for my liking.
That’s dangerous play?
A hand above an opposition’s shoulder is usually a straight red?
(Although Jamesy is leaning forward/downward in his goalwards movement.)
Confused?
VAR – as it is applied in Scotland – is arguably adding nothing to OUR game?
Ditch VAR, save money, and the bonus is that Scottish match officials won’t get
any international or European games without VAR experience! A win win! 🙂
Going with the way things are being reported in the daily sevco the FAKEOVER iscno more,thatchers latest from the dud journalist that broke story.
Remember that they are proven pathological liars though Joker !
I disagree with you. VAR put some responsibility to the refs. Remember when Sevco got almost a penalty kick every week if they were in trouble.
Since VAR their penalties have dried up.
So VAR gives the refs less room to cheat.
General question…
Why are the MSM going on about investors trying to buy 51% in Sevco when king had to make a mandatory offer to buy all shares when he ow ed 30%+ of shares?
“Mr King failed to make a mandatory offer despite having acquired more than 30% of the voting rights in Rangers, as required by Rule 9 of the Takeover Code.”
He’s absolute dud. Can’t be trusted to referee a game.
Holly Wullie gives the dirty cheat a pension
Another horrible scandal ignored by all.
Not to worry auld Tenalady pants Heevins was excited and proud of himself on SSB today,apparently he was 1 goal away from a correct score prediction for Celtic.
Funny that because I read his article and he had us being in the same boat as sevco,getting best from a team that will be playing championship football next season,putting us in the same category as sevco.
That auld fart wrote our chances off today,he left us without a name,and yet sevco are total CRISIS,binned out of Europe,not a pot to oiss in,the FAKEOVER from the 69s has disappeared over the horizon,and this daft auld James Hunt wants to focus his hatred and bile on our club.
Imagine that was yiur father-in-law having to go up to visit him with your Mrs every week,you would avoid him the the plague,every excuse under the sun to stay clear of auld pishy.
Following the forearm smash Forrest was barged out of the way. No attempt at all was made to play the ball which had been touched out of reach by Forrest.
Scandal is not the word. Cheating is the word you are looking for.
No foul given for the push on Idah was just embarrassing, sorry just cheating again.
Celtic have to make complaints regarding these incidents and ask for an explanation.
Another weekend of officials hogging the limelight once again !
If that had been a saints player I wuda bn raging if it had been given, Jamesie avoided a leg, no contact but that left him off balance and he came together with the other player, aye it wud prob hv been a free kick anywhere else but a pen?
We’ve all got opinions of course but for me they actually got it right, and as for the push on Idah, ref was staring str8 at him, so he cud hv the excuse of not actually seeing any arms on his back.
Its easy to forget the ref has to actually see it to give it, and he’s on the pitch at eye level and gets one split sec look at it, not the angles n cameras we all get.
How happy would we all hv been last min 0-0 and they give that against us?
Not very would be the answer.
I can guarantee you that had it been 0-0 in the last min in our box it would have been given
I think both decisions from VAR were very poor. The St.Johnstone goal was outstanding & Idah getting 2 hands on his back was a harsh overturn of the onfield decision, likewise I think the onfield decision for the penalty was an understandable call.
Reviewing the videos of both maybe says there is possibly something to look at but they aren’t clear & obvious errors.
Idah had taken a bad touch before the hands went on his back & the St.Johnstone goal would have played out exactly as it did had he not went down. Idah didn’t show enough strength & it was a soft overturn.
Pretty much the same for James Forrest, he was off balance & was pushed in the face if no penalty was given there is argument for it to be looked at but it’s not a huge error. Although it is mad commentary to call it a shoulder barge.
I think Dallas seen the opportunity to get one back over Celtic after disallowing the St.Johnstone goal.
VAR is re-refereeing matches which is not it’s purpose. I don’t like it but as others have said it is something where officials are held accountable & have more challenges in spewing bias on fixtures.
I also think the onfield referees need to grow more balls & push back on VAR. Decide themselves if they disagree with there initial call. Football should be a contact sport. A bit of rough & tumble is part of it but not for much longer.