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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Andy Halliday Celtic penalty snub splits the pundits as 'mistimed' lunge from Hearts star sparks VAR radio silence

Former Celtic star Mark Wilson insists that Hearts star Andy Halliday was lucky to avoid giving away a penalty for a sliding tackle on Alistair Johnston.

With Ange Postecoglou's side leading in the Scottish Cup clash through Aaron Mooy's early goal, full-back Johnston flooded into the box and crossed a low drive across the six yard box, but was tripped by Halliday in the process of attempting to find a teammate. The Canada international gave up his penalty protests to referee Kevin Clancy quickly with the ball being cleared by the Hearts defence for a throw-in, and Willie Collum in the VAR room did not interfere to send the man in the middle to the monitor.

Celtic would go on to win by a convincing 3-0 margin to book their spot at Hampden, but Wilson told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard - where Halliday is a regular pundit - that action should have been taken by the officials. He said: "That is a shout for a penalty. I know Johnston crosses the ball, but it's one those ones where the two of them are going for it, and it's a 50-50. Johnston gets there before and the cross comes in, and I think Andy comes in mistimes it."

However, fellow pundits Gordon Dalziel and Hugh Keevins claimed Clancy and Collum had got the decision correct at Tynecastle. Dalziel said: "I know what Mark is saying. I thought when I first saw it Andy was running a risk, and he is, because he goes to ground. I thought that was the correct decision."

Keevins rounded off: "I think it's a close one. But, I don't think it's enough to get a penalty."

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