Chris Sutton reflected on the controversial Glasgow Derby at Ibrox on Sunday and noted that his pre-match concerns about the application of VAR in influencing the game was well founded as Celtic were denied a stonewall penalty kick when Connor Goldson handled the ball inside theRangers penalty area but referee John Beaton failed to point to the spot and VAR operator Willie Collum failed to even ask the referee to have another look.
Compare and contrast with the variety of softer decisions that have all gone against Celtic since the introduction of VAR with the Scottish Champions seemingly having one set of rules for handball against them and a different set of rules at the other end of the pitch. James Forrest at Tynecastle, Sunday’s decision in contrast to the penalties given to the likes of Dundee United and Ross County at Celtic Park – if those were penalty kicks then why was the Connor Goldson incident not even reviewed by the referee?
These are questions that Celtic now intend to take to the Scottish FA for the second meeting on the subject since its introduction in October as we revealed on The Celtic Star yesterday afternoon before the red-tops picked it up as their ‘exclusive’.
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“I was worried VAR might cause a problem at Ibrox and sure enough there was a big flashpoint with the Connor Goldson handball,” Chris Sutton noted in his column in Daily Record this morning. “I don’t care what anyone says, or how some people want to pore over the IFAB rules in the search of a technicality. A penalty would be awarded down south every day of the week.
“There should be no debate. Listen, I’m not saying Celtic deserved anything from the game on Monday. They escaped with a draw and will probably feel fortunate at that. But that doesn’t make the Goldson decision okay. It ended up honours even and as you were in terms of the points difference. That could have had a major bearing on the title race though. It still might,” Sutton stated.
“I don’t blame John Beaton. He had a split second to make the call but that is why VAR is there. It’s to correct clear and obvious errors and they don’t come much more clear and obvious than that. For Willie Collum in the VAR hut to come to the conclusion there was no case to answer, and to not even invite the referee to have another look, was incredulous.
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“I have no problems with the Fashion Sakala penalty decision. There’s an argument Sakala stood on Carl Starfelt’s foot but as far as I was concerned, the defender slid in and didn’t get the ball. If you do that, you are running the risk of a penalty and that decision was fair enough. But for all that happened, I’m sure the Celtic players and staff would have been sitting in the dressing room at the end feeling it was a good result in the circumstances.
“It was a good point in the context of the title race – but also a good reminder this league is not over yet. Of course Celtic are in good shape with a nine point lead and vastly greater goal difference. But it’s not done yet and there can be no room for complacency. That’s not something you can label at this Celtic side, but I thought a hint of it crept in on Monday.”
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