The Scottish FA have released a short statement on their official website relating to the controversial incident at Fir Park on Wednesday night surrounding the footage used to determine that Celtic star Jota was in an offside position before scoring such a wonderful goal against Motherwell.
And as expected given the leaks to various newspapers, the blame is being placed on the camera operator who apparently was too busy filming Ange Postecoglou to worry about capturing the action on the park. And also as expected they double down on their offside call claiming that the Hawk-Eye technology is designed to sort out these situations. If you believe that, you’ll believe anything…
Here’s how they are trying to wriggle themselves out of their latest VAR related mess…
Referee Operations Statement: Motherwell v Celtic
‘Referee Operations can confirm that during a VAR review at Motherwell v Celtic, the footage from the relevant 18-yard line camera did not capture an appropriate view of the incident.
‘While the broadcast footage was only able to show a wider camera angle for viewers, Hawk-Eye technology is designed to calibrate an accurate offside decision from either of the two 18-yard line camera positions, with the subsequent VAR review determining that the Celtic player had received the ball in an offside position. (So what? That is NOT the rule – Ed!)
‘We have provided feedback to the host broadcaster on the incident as part of our regular review of the system operation.’
Copious amounts of bs here imho from @ScottishFA
Why does broadcaster have direction on use of var cameras? They didn’t pay for em, clubs did.
They’re for use in match decision making. Not saving broadcasters using own camera crews.@CelticFC tear em a new one. pic.twitter.com/LlAwdT8z5L— Judging EBTs:guilty (@AitkensDrum) November 11, 2022
Well there you have it, “He received the ball in an offside position. ”
Unfortunately that isn’t the rule.
It isn’t where the player receives the ball but where the player is when the ball is played.
Jota was offside when he got to the ball but that wasn’t the position he was in when the ball was played.
‘Received the ball in an offside position’ That’s not the rule. This mob are a joke!
Is this a deliberately worded statement confusing the offside rule?
“with the subsequent VAR review determining that the Celtic player had received the ball in an offside position”.
A player is offside when a pass is made not when he receives the pass.
There is no claim he was offside other than when he receives the pass. A non-statement straight out of the SFA handbook.
Received the ball in an offside position, PREPOSTEROUS EXPLANATION, his position when the pass was executed defines offside. What chance have we got when the refereeing department don’t know the laws of the game.