Michael Nicholson might be getting back in touch with the SFA after yet more VAR controversy involving Celtic. The Parkhead chief executive revealed at the club’s AGM that they contacted the authorities after Michael Smith’s handball for Hearts against the champions wasn’t checked.
That was on the opening weekend of the technology being introduced into the Scottish Premiership and Ange Postecoglou was left scratching his head as to why Steven McLean, in front of the monitor at the Clydesdale House base, didn’t refer match referee Nick Walsh to check it out. And the Celtic boss highlighted the incident after his team’s win over Dundee United to show the inconsistency after a contentious decision.
Walsh was again involved after another contentious handball decision with the whistler this time in the operations room when he asked David Dickinson to look at an incident involving Alexandro Bernabei when the ball struck his arm from Steven Fletcher’s header in the win over Dundee United. Dickinson looked at it and pointed to the spot with Fletcher dusting himself down to convert from 12 yards and cancel out the first of Sead Haksabanovic’s two goals. And to rub salt into Celtic’s wounds, Argentinian Bernabei was booked despite knowing little about it with his back turned when the ball hit his arm. It didn’t affect the outcome in the end as the champions produced a late show to win 4-2 but it was still a major talking point. Here’s what the pundits had to say on Bernabei’s handball.
Packie Bonner
The Celtic goalkeeping legend focused on the definition of a player's hand being in an unnatural position.
"The interpretation of the handball rule is the bit we're all concerned about. If VAR is only there to give a decision whether it hit is hand or not then someone has to interpret as it an unnatural position. It wasn't in an unnatural position because he goes to head the ball and it's flicked just away from him so he's using his arms to get height. His hand is behind his back. He has no idea where the ball is or if there's a player behind him. He's got no idea that Steven Fletcher is going to head that ball towards his hand. It's not, for me, in an unnatural position for a player who tries to head the ball that he uses his arms for momentum. Alexandro Bernabei was booked. For what? Deliberate handball."
Rory Loy
The ex Rangers man backed Ange Postecoglou over calls for consistency after Celtic weren't awarded a spot kick for Michael Smith's recent handball
" Ange Postecoglou is absolutely right to highlight the one at Tynecastle and this one here. How can you give one but not the other? It defies logic at times. VAR are getting involved in far too many decisions that aren't clear and obvious at the moment and that's what's making it difficult. Ange Postecoglou is also right when he says that at the moment if it hits your hand in the box then it's a penalty but there's a big difference between teething issues and referees getting decisions wrong. Teething issues would be the communication and the actual technical side of things. I don't feel for a referee who gets the chance to see an incident live and six angles and STILL makes the wrong decision."
Michael Stewart
The former Scotland midfielder was left perplexed at the decision and is adamant the defender's hand was in a natural position.
"His arm is up there because of the way he jumped. It’s not a penalty. That’s the law. They don’t understand the law, they see an arm is out there and it’s got to be a penalty kick. The law explains quite clearly that’s not a penalty kick. I don’t care if the officials deemed it a penalty kick or not, I’ve just explained the law, tell me how that’s a penalty?"
But did go on to accuse Ange Postecoglou of double standards over his Hearts handball stance
"I've got a lot of respect for Ange Postecoglou but he talks about consistency. Almost to a man, Celtic were claiming the handball at Tynecastle was a penalty kick. If you're looking for consistency then I'm not sure they can say it wasn't a handball today. I've consistently said it's not handball for the reason that it's not deliberate and their hand is in a position which is natural because of the movement of the body. You can't pick and choose. Most people are saying the one at Tynecastle should have been a penalty but today they're asking how it's a penalty."
Steven Thompson
The former Scotland striker was adamant it was a penalty - a view that left Michael Stewart dumbfounded and questioning if he knew the rules.
"I think it's a penalty. I know he can't do anything and he can't see it but does it need to be deliberate to be a handball? The header is going on target. Handball in the box - penalty."
Leanne Crichton
The former Scotland international midfielder and current Motherwell player didn't feel it was a spot kick but tried to see it through the referee's eyes.
"For me, it's not a penalty. His arm is slightly extended out from the body. It could be marginal if it was on the t-shirt line and it comes off the right arm. (But) the laws of the game say that if a player handles the ball and denies an opportunity at goal. That's how the referee must have viewed it. He's denied a shot on target and that's why he's booked Bernabei. (As) he's stopped a promising attack."
Stuart Kettlewell
The former Ross County boss expects his verdict to be unpopular but he thinks the match officials got it right.
"It's incredibly harsh but I think it is (a penalty), I do. He doesn't know anything about it, the ball comes on, I just feel his arm is outstretched from the body that's what officials are looking at. You will see this type of thing being given as a penalty in Scotland in the coming weeks. The ball is travelling towards goal, you don't know if it is going to go in. A lot of people are talking about it being a natural position, I don't feel it is when it's that far behind his back. His arm is almost stretched straight out from his body."
Marvin Bartley
And he was backed up the Livingston No.2
"I agree with Stuart. I don't think he knows much about it, it's incredibly harsh, I just don't think it's a natural position for his arm to be in, regards to going for a header or not. The referee and VAR kind of make the right decision with that one. I would be highly frustrated if that was against Livingston."
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