Former English Premier League referee and Sky Sports analyst Dermot Gallagher has dismissed the complaints raised by Hibernian after yesterday’s Premier Sports Cup Final. Hibs interim boss David Gray and defender Paul McGinn claimed that John Beaton got two major decisions wrong which cost the Hibees the game. One complaint was in regard to a rejected penalty claim and the other involved Celtic’s second goal. However, Dermot Gallagher has explained why both grumbles are unjustified.
Many pundits remarked that Hibs were denied a “stonewaller”, when Carl Starfelt was accused of pushing Ryan Porteous in the back. As such, the incident was included on Sky Sports News‘ Ref Watch segment and Gallagher said:
“I think not. It’s a coming together and no more than that.
“The defender is strong. You see the forward coming up very, very quickly. I don’t think he’s convinced it’s a penalty either.
“We’ve already seen Trent Alexander-Arnold put his hands on the back (earlier in the programme). It’s what impact is has.”
In terms of Celtic’s winning goal, when Kyogo got in behind after a quick free-kick, McGinn stated that the capital club were furious as they were expecting play to be halted for a substitution.
Gallagher ran the rule over that decision too and remarked:
“This is all about the consequence.
“The free-kick is given and because the ball is chipped in very, very quickly and the goal results from it, it becomes a big talking point.
“You see free-kicks given like that. It’s a free-kick that you see in many, many games.
“The referee is always going to allow them to take it quick if they are in the right place.”
It is also worth noting McGinn stood on Taylor’s heel and pushed him in the back, inside the box. However, the Hibs man had an absence of memory when reflecting on the match’s decisions. Perhaps Celtic should have been given a penalty for that infringement?
