Celtic VAR decision probed- Obsessed Daily Record dredge up ‘fresh’ Nicholson penalty controversy

The Daily Record is showing no sign of getting over the despair of Celtic’s SPFL title win.

And especially the Matchday 37 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park.

A late penalty scored by Kelechi Iheanacho delivered full points on the night.

It should have been a more comfortable win for the hoops but John Beaton and Andrew Dallas refused to award a first half penalty when goalkeeper Callum Ward wiped out Daizen Maeda from behind.

That incident has barely been mentioned in legacy media.

Instead the stupidity of Sam Nicholson gets a free pass with Mark Pirrie of the Record struggling to cope with Celtic’s domination.

Celebrating his side winning the Close Season Cup and the Transfer Window Trophy doesn’t mask the pain of 14 SPFL title wins over the last 15 seasons.

Strangely you won’t read a word about title 56 in the Record.

In an act of utter desperation Pirie turned to the Sunday Post to dredge up another twist in the Nicholson borefest.

The sub-headline read:

Celtic VAR decision probed as ex official tells SFA chiefs the ref changes that must be made

A controversial end to the season sparked major talking points across the campaign.

The Celtic VAR decision isn’t been probed. Roache and his self loathing side-kick Steve Conroy are just on board to create an audience for their attempts to create a media platform. They know the opinions that will gain interest in legacy outlets like the Record.

Pirie added:

Former referee Des Roache has called for changes to VAR in the next Premiership season after a controversial end to the season.

The he gets on to what he has to shoe-horn in at every attempt. At least once a day. The Sam Nicholson handball.

When the back-tracking Motherwell defender elbowed Auston Trusty in the face then put his hand above in front of his forehead to direct the ball out the park. Naturally John Beaton awarded a throw-in to Motherwell.

Derek McInnes called it disgusting, his mate Kris Boyd agreed, Ally McCoist went further will the team at the Record into a fourth week of mourning.

From the Record Template Pirie brings in:

In the final week of the season, Motherwell midfielder Sam Nicholson was judged to have handled the ball in the final seconds of the clash with the Hoops with the game level at 2-2.

Maybe he shouldn’t jump with his hand in front of his forehead? Just a thought.

Andrew Dallas in the VAR room would intervene to flag the incident to referee John Beaton, who awarded the spot-kick.

Kelechi Iheanacho dispatched from 12 yards – but had the game remained level, Celtic would have needed to win by three goals to claim the Scottish title.

In the end, they only needed a victory to become champions as Martin O’Neill’s men managed a 3-1 victory over the Jambos.

He then goes into the ‘blockbuster’ quotes that the Sunday Post uses from Roache:

He told the Sunday Post: “I don’t think that VAR is the problem, the issue is the people who are operating it, and how they’re being coached and educated to use it.

“We’ve seen in Celtic’s last league game against Hearts with the offside decision, assistant Dave Roome got it wrong, but match official Don Robertson called it right. Technology works. It’s how you’re being coached and applied to use it.”

When you are lifting quotes from the Sunday Post it really is time to take stock and assess things.

Even more so when Celtic have inflicted 10/15/20/25 years of misery into your personal life. Do you want to have that invade your day job as well?