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The National (Scotland)

Sport

Robbie Hanratty

Scottish Cup refereeing appointments revealed, but one absence raises eyebrows

Alan Muir Scottish Cup Celtic Daizen Maeda Kevin Clancy Hibernian Livingston SFA St Johnstone

As the countdown to this weekend’s Scottish Cup quarter-final ties continues, the Scottish FA has confirmed the refereeing teams for each match.

However, one notable omission has raised eyebrows - Alan Muir will not be officiating in any of the games.

This marks the third consecutive set of fixtures Muir has missed following his controversial role in the recent Hibernian vs Celtic Scottish Premiership clash at Easter Road on February 22.

In the 83rd minute of that match with Hibs leading 2-1, Daizen Maeda appeared to score for Celtic, but despite the on-field officials, referee Steven McLean and lineman David Roome, seeing no issue with the ‘goal’, Muir, operating as the VAR official, overturned the decision after a brief review.

Muir confirmed the ‘goal’ should not stand, citing that the ball had gone out of play before Alistair Johnston made the assist.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers had publicly questioned the decision, stating, “I’m hoping to see conclusive evidence that it was out. The linesman on this side, he had his flag up quite a lot today.

“But for the goal, he probably has one of the best views in the ground and he kept his flag down, which tells me that he felt it was in. Not all of the ball was out.

“So if it’s the case, then you’ve got to go and review it with VAR. But then you’re taking an angle from the 18-yard line.

“If you’re taking the angle from the 18-yard line, and you can tell me that you can absolutely say 100 per cent, then you’re having a guess.”

The SFA’s Key Match Incident (KMI) panel later reviewed the incident and voted almost unanimously that Muir’s decision was incorrect, and that Maeda’s goal should have stood.

The decision has continued to spark controversy, particularly among Celtic fans, with the SFA panel voting 4-1 that the goal should have counted.

As a result, Muir has now been excluded from all Scottish Cup quarter-final duties this weekend.

Last week, Muir was left off the referee list for the six midweek Premiership fixtures and again at the weekend.

Despite being one of only three full-time VAR officials in the country, Muir is still awaiting his next appointment, which will likely be scrutinised given the ongoing controversy over the Celtic goal.

VAR will still be in operation for three of the four Scottish Cup ties this weekend, with Livingston’s clash against St Johnstone the only tie missing the technology.

(Image: SNS Group)