Bookmakers Paddy Power have brutally trolled Nick Walsh and the refereeing team’s decision not to award Hearts a penalty today. The teams met at Tynecastle but there was a flashpoint in the first half of the 0-0 opening day draw, when Dhanda’s cross hit Conor Barron’s hand in the box.
Barron looked sheepish but there was no VAR intervention. Supporters were rightly perplexed by the call but Paddy Power channeled that in a tweet.
VAR: “Nick, the cross clearly hits his arm, but having checked the replay, you can see the Rangers badge on his shirt, so no penalty.” pic.twitter.com/LiBwpZjtOV
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 3, 2024
The decision reflects a policy change for referees and VAR under the watch of Head of Refereeing Willie Collum. Collum wants less intervention from officials and clearly wants to stop re-refereeing games. Hopefully, this is the case and it’ll be applied across all matches for all teams.
Celtic, meanwhile can seize the title initiative from day one by recording a win against Kilmarnock tomorrow afternoon. While it is the earliest of stages, it is good to open up a gap on our nearest challengers from last season as there are likely to be a number of twists and turns over the course of the season.
Despite Rangers dropping points, Celtic need to strengthen and not dwell too much on what is happening over in Govan.
The ball did NOT hit Barron’s hand! Barron can clearly be seen bringing his right arm forward to intercept to ball with his forearm. This was a clear and deliberate decision by the player. A player who now is aware that many of the rules he used to play to at Aberdeen no longer apply.
Collum has clearly wasted no time in making his intentions clear for the season, and of course it now make it so crystal clear why when they had such golden opportunities to clean up the utter shambles that has been corrupt Scottish officiating for as many years as I can remember, the sfa would make such an abhorrent hire as head of refereeing in the first place! They really made a terrible situation worse by throwing gasoline onto an already blazing fire!
Transfers will come it just our media magnify everything Celtic. Clubs know the closer the deadline comes the harder it is to get a replacement Celtic will give Norwich money but it might be last day and they will have no time for replacement Celtic will manage alright in spl but the players they are looking for now is to improve the squad to stay in Europe after Christmas yes it’s a risk but Norwich are playing a bigger risk antwerp are doing the same there is three or four Rodgers want in before the deadline and hopefully hold on to our players can still go after champions league which is a big incentive and im sure Celtic players will be on super bonus that will take them up to great wage. Europe at Celtic park is unique some best players in world football have said its one of the best if not thee best
It is not up to Collum to make the handball rules, it is uefa that make the rules he should adhere to them.
I,d be far happier if Paddy Power called out the blatant bent game that is Scottish football. Week in week out it’s blatant match fixing, Ragers being refereed to a different standard, game after game, time after time. Surprised it took as long as 30 mins into the new season to see Walsh & Dallas play the blue card , as is their usual bent. Every last 1 of the big bookmakers should be asking serious questions about the Rigged game that we have to contend with. This has gone on far too long now & sure does not look like changing any time soon
It would be good to open up a 2 point gap to our main title challengers so early in the season. Hearts might push us close this year.