The SFA has tried to justify its reasoning behind the decision not to award Tomas Cvancara a penalty during Celtic’s Scottish Cup tie with Dundee on Saturday night…
In a goalless first half, the Czech forward appeared to be shoved by Dundee’s Luke Graham near the edge of the 18-yard box – a moment that television replays suggested may have occurred on the line.
Referee Ryan Lee awarded a free-kick just outside the box, even after VAR looking at the incident involving Cvancara.
At half-time, Premier Sports presenter Emma Dodds relayed an explanation from the SFA outlining why the original call stood.
“In the 38th minute, a free kick is correctly awarded outside the penalty area because the pushing began outside and continued inside,” Dodds read. “However, it can only be punished if it is holding that continues inside. Pushing can only be punished at the initial point of contact.”
Commenting on the incident on Premier Sports, ex-Celtic defender and pundit Charlie Mulgrew stated: “I don’t now how they can come up with that conclusion. You can see there is clear contact in the box. It obviously starts outside but it continues right into the corner [of the box]. A clear penalty for me.”
"I think Dundee have maybe got away with one there" 👀@charlie_mulgrew and Tony Docherty share their thoughts on Celtic's first half penalty appeal 🗣️#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/iCIOVNuAvQ
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 7, 2026
Former Dundee boss Tony Docherty also gave his thoughts on the incident: “I think there is an argument that it should be. I remember a similar incident, with Braga at Hearts against Dundee United and I think the initial contact is outside where it continues into the box. It was very quick the decision, made on that.”
Celtic will head to Ibrox on the weekend of March 7–8 for their Scottish Cup quarter-final following their hard-fought win over Dundee. Martin O’Neill’s side now face an arduous run of fixtures, with two trips to Ibrox alongside away matches in Stuttgart and at Pittodrie – all packed into a demanding 10-day spell spanning late February and early March.
Conor Spence
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We must have different rules in Scotland as IFAB states
According to IFAB Laws of the Game, the foul is considered to have occurred inside the box if it continues across the line, as the offense is still taking place when the player enters the penalty area.
◦ Continuous Foul: If a defender starts pulling or pushing an attacker outside the penalty area and continues to do so inside, a penalty kick is awarded.
Location Matters: The referee wlilljudge where the foul concludes or persists. If the contact remains until the player is inside the 18-yard box, it is a penalty.
• Initial Action: While some fouls start outside. the continuation is what matters. as the infraction is deemed to have occurred within the restrictec
There’s no need for anyone to be baffled, surprised or whatever. The reason is simple.. the guys a cheating orange bastard. . Refused to send off tavpen, clear as day. Refused Motherwell a pen at ibrox. Huns got last min pen v dundee united. The list goes on.
Bang on, Stevie Bhoy.
Im not suprised i was worried when i seen the officails an MP on var David Dickinson and the Scottish sfa mafia against RC religeon and becuase Celtic was started by a Catholic monk small minded bitter people think we are R.C club is so far from the truth that RIFC is RFC is the thinking of the Dallas family after watching Dickinson officaiting Celtic last league game
Scottish football kidding itself that there’s not a biased against Celtic by some referees and sfa just a few pointers in the game the penalty has taken the focus off some other poor refereeing teirny kick to the face come on not a red it was assult at least uncontrolled rember Beaton was invovled in in two Celtic players getting red cards after telling rrf to have another look what means your wrong and against hibs saying to officails got it wrong when linedman had the best view these all mount up Celtic board should make more noise about this is a main arguement that supporters are trying to get rid of the board media try to make it all about transfers thrn media say time over run thats typical with our media sky sports has a pundit that openly hates and says it about Celtic that some games he has to avoid cause he is to close to Celtic support this guy boyd has brought this on himself willie collum will do nothing that outside Scottish football knows theres a biased that sfa came out 5 minutes after poor biased decision by all couldnt changed but changed the rule book to try hide the fact that its Celtic fc and the bad calls against them and its getting worst that goal in last second must been like an earthquake going through the corridors of powers at hampdens sfa base and of course eufa head of refereeing office how he got that job after email gate in sfa needs to be queastioned thats to top ranking scottish football people falling on there sword the other holding back forms to stop a player joining Celtic for a game against old co and Dallas not just within sfa but top office sending emails about a head of state being the vatican he’s either lucky or a mason secret society which is at the core not just sfa but fifa so Celtic board grow a pair and take this up to the highest level law courts yes we know masons are running there corridors but we had one Q.C that stood up to them and won our manager getting threats assualted on and of the pitch we had two people charged that a top judge in summing up told the jury that these two were to stupid to make a bomb there lawyer couldnt have done better i think they got 3yrs and out in halve the time but at least it went to court and prople outside the west of Scotland read about how our justice can be tweeked
If celtic are winning 4-0 the bigots will award celtic a penalty,we will see lots
of these decisions going on till the season ends,then it will start again in august
Leopards don’t change their spots.The BIGOTS can’t help themselves