Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on key penalty calls in the games involving Celtic and Rangers.
Greg Taylor was punished for handball just minutes into Sunday's lunchtime showdown with St Mirren. Referee David Dickinson initially didn't award the spot-kick before VAR intervened. After looking at the screen he pointed to the spot with Mark O'Hara converting from 12-yards. Jack Ross admitted his surprise on BBC Sportscene that the whistler didn't award the penalty in real-time.
During his Ref Watch analysis, former English Premier League official Gallagher watched the clip back and gave his insight and big verdict and explained why it WAS the correct decision as he hailed the intervention of VAR in Paisley. Celtic went on to hit St Mirren for five in the second period to run out big winners after Charles Dunne's red card just before half-time. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "Well this is why I say it is so difficult to apply [handball rule].
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"if you look, the referee has the perfect view. He has gone to the screen. This is the view he has got. You can see the referee in the picture. He is now looking at a picture of what he looked at.
Asked if it was a penalty he added: "It was a penalty. He moves his arm to the ball. Good VAR intervention."
Rangers were awarded a penalty at end of the first half in their win over Kilmarnock with James Tavernier converting to make it 3-0 and put the game out of sight after a VAR intervention. Willie Collum was summoned to the screen and pointed to the spot - but Gallagher and pundit Stephen Warnock did NOT agree with his call. The former top official also believes Allan McGregor should have been penalised and Kilmarnock awarded a penalty for a foul on Rory McKenzie.
He explained: "Well the referee clearly can't see where it struck him. There is no doubt about that. Only the VAR can when it shows it from behind the goal. My only surprise is when the referee sees this, I just don't know where it hits him on the hand.
"That was my surprise. I wasn't surprised he was sent to the screen as he couldn't possibly see anything. When he goes to the screen he retains all options. He doesn't have to give a penalty like people think."
Asked if he could understand the decision, Stephen Warnock added: "No absolutely not. How he has come to that decision when it is pretty much clear to everyone that it has struck him on the chest. You see the Rangers player saying it is handball so it is going to be reviewed. But to then look at it and go [and give it] it's bizarre."
On the McGregor moment, Gallagher said: "Well Kilmarnock will argue they have been penalised twice. They will argue the one against them wasn't a penalty and this one was. Unfortunately for them I think the two decisions have gone against them."
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