Fuming Richard Foster has branded Celtic's opening goal against Morton "farcical" after Efe Ambrose was punished for a handball following a controversial VAR check.
The Championship side enjoyed a bright start to the Scottish Cup showdown but fell behind after VAR alerted ref Kevin Clancy to a possible handball by former Hoops defender Ambrose. There seemed little the Nigerian could do as the ball deflected off of Jack Baird's boot on to his hand from close range from Liel Abada's shot, but Clancy pointed to the spot and Aaron Mooy converted from 12 yards to send Ange Postecoglou's team on their way to a 5-0 demolition job.
The decision infuriated Morton boss Dougie Imrie who claimed the interference from the technology changed the game, and the Sportscene panel stood in agreement with the raging manager. Former Rangers defender Foster put the blame on Clancy for agreeing with Craig Napier in the VAR room after being sent to the monitor.
He said: 'It's a difficult mindset for a team to go to Celtic Park and try and be on the front foot. We have seen Premiership try, so credit to Morton for starting that way. But this (the penalty) completely changes the tie and it's an absolutely farcical decision. He has just got it wrong.
"The referee has obviously went and had a look at it, but that can never be a penalty. His arm is in a perfectly natural position because he is trying to kick the ball away. The ball goes past him and hits his teammate. His arm hasn't moved from where he put it, and I don't understand what Kevin Clancy thinks Efe Ambrose can do there. There has been a lot of talk of VAR lately. The right decisions and wrong decisions, but this for me is just the referee making a huge mistake."
Fellow pundit Leanne Crichton added: 'These types of decisions are actually making it difficult for a pundit reporting on the game. I know looking at that as a player that it's never a penalty, but the inconsistency is making it difficult to see why that is a penalty. I don't understand why that was even a VAR review. I don't understand why Craig Napier advised Kevin Clancy to look at it, and I don't understand when he sees it that he still thinks it's a handball."
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