The Scottish FA is “finally seeing sense” on handball rules, says Bobby Madden. The comment comes after controversy in the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership, including a Kyogo penalty incident that went unchecked.
The poor referees are scrutinised from the first moments of the season but you’d have to say if Kyogo was onside then this was surely a penalty? pic.twitter.com/oTBdfp7JNE
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog_09) August 5, 2024
1)
Kyogo penalty v Kilmarnock.
No penalty for a Celtic and no card for the Kilmarnock keeper.2)
Joe Hart sent off v Livingston. https://t.co/brJxO7x7Ar pic.twitter.com/Aj2HwMqpp4— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) August 5, 2024
In a post made to his Instagram story, he said: “UEFA have finally seen sense and ‘relaxed’ the handball criteria. SFA have to follow suit and apply new criteria. Unfortunately, that appears to be secret and we will have to wait for their transparent press release this week to find out if this is a penalty or not.”
Referencing the Celtic incident, he added: “For the avoidance of doubt, if VAR thought this was a foul, there would be an on-field review. If it was offside the image would be shown and play would be restarted with the offside. You never know, we may be shown a still of the offside in 30 minutes.”
Kyogo well on-side.
Kilmarnock player’s foot in front of Kyogo playing Kyogo on. https://t.co/nJzxzGn1Vj pic.twitter.com/B8Ej6xfUhm— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) August 4, 2024
On the opening day of the Scottish Premiership, Hearts were on the end of a controversial decision where the ball appeared to hit the hand of theRangers defender Connor Barron inside of the box.
Referee Nick Walsh didn’t give a penalty, and VAR didn’t see the need to go back and take a second look.
The following day in the Dundee derby, there was a similar decision made where Dundee United felt they were robbed of a penalty. Flag day at Celtic Park also wasn’t without controversy as Kyogo was impeded by the Kilmarnock goalkeeper, but again, no penalty was given.
The Premiership was rife with controversy last season, but the main criticism was the lack of consistency. Although some decisions this season have been labelled “terrible” by supporters, others are all for looser rules, as long as referees stick to it over the course of 38 games.
The handball change will be most welcome for all supporters so long as it is consistent. The incident with Kyogo though was a blatant foul and a huge error by VAR to dismiss it. Had the game been tight then this would have been a huge controversy for Willie Collum on his first weekend in charge of Scottish refereeing.
And if there has been guidance on the handball rule from UEFA, has there also been something similar for the high foot that saw Yang sent off at Tynecastle back in March. Remember Celtic appealed the red card and that was thrown out by the three former referees on the appeals panel, so four referees thought it was a valid red card.
This happened at Tynecastle on Saturday and there wasn’t even a yellow card issued. Maybe Bobby Madden or better still Willie Collum will explain.
We’ll have to see how decisions go for the rest of the season but there is mixed opinion over if the relaxed rules are good for the game…and to find out if they are being relaxed for all clubs.
🗣️ “It’s not good enough, it’s a penalty”
🗣️ “They think it’s a natural coming together”The studio discuss Celtic’s claim for a spot kick and how VAR will operate this season ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/E3SY6Jdvpd
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 4, 2024
Jessica Elliott
The issue within the cheating applied by officials, will always come down to interpretation of the rules of the game not being applied correctly?
It’s always been rampant within Scottish football, and VAR was meant to be used to help tidy up the corruption within the game?
But in fact it’s made matters far worse, with one scum team playing to a totally different set of rules compared to every other Scottish team?
I’m yet to meet anyone who attends or tunes in to watch a game of football, actually does to watch officials apply the rules of the game?
Yet in Scottish football, such eejits are allowed to take centre stage within the game?
Uefa know how shite they all are, with not wanting the likes in any of there showpiece matches?
Would any other organisation within the footballing world, allow cheating officials to even be considered to be involved within matches, where they have clear affiliations with a team taking part in a match?
Not a chance of it happening, except within Scottish football?
This remains the issue the Scottish FA aren’t prepared to tackle, so in turn keeps Scottish football corrupt to the core imo?
First step should be every official should be made to declare where there allegiances are towards which club?
We already know that Scottish officials are on the same par as scum cheerleaders within the media at present?
Hence the reason why scum cheerleaders within the media defend such ridiculous decision making?
In turn it means that total eejits are supported by bigger eejits in keeping the Scottish game a total farce?
Thankfully we can play a style of football were that can’t manage to impact ourselves as much as they would like to at present?
However it still doesn’t excuse just how much damage is been created to the overall look of the Scottish game?
Willie Collum , one of the worst refs ever is charged with improving standards….jeezo game day 1and things remain the same.
Offside against Kyogo ??
Penalty .??
Soft fouls awarded, continuously
Kilmarnock player in first 15 mins shouldve been carded
Tackle on Palma..??
As I said game day 1…