Tom Boyd was left fuming after Celtic had been once more on the top of a controversial handball VAR choice as the previous skipper raged: “referees want to return to highschool.” The treble-winning ex-Hoops captain was furious at Dundee United’s penalty award at Parkhead which noticed the guests draw degree as Steven Fletcher netted from the spot to cancel out Sead Haksabanovic’s opener after a handball by Alexandro Bernabei in a dramatic 4-2 win for the champions.
Argentinian Bernabei had his again turned when Fletcher’s header towards objective struck his arm and referee David Dickinson was referred to the monitor for verify by VAR Nick Walsh. The whistler awarded the penalty and booked the complete again. Boyd was working as co-commentator on Celtic TV and blasted: “It’s time like this the referees ought to ignore the principles. He’s placing his arms out for stability. Unbelievable! Referees want to return to highschool.”
IFAB guidelines state that a participant will likely be penalised if his physique is an "unnatural silhouette", i.e. making his physique greater along with his arm. It's also robotically an offence if the arm is above shoulder peak. Former Celtic goalkeeper and BBC pundit Packie Bonner mentioned: “If you happen to attempt to head the ball you must use your physique to attempt to get momentum. His hand was behind his again. Okay, the ball was going objective route and it hit his arm. Was it a handball and deserving of a penalty? That’s debatable. However how will you give a yellow card to a participant who has his again to the ball and doesn’t even really know the place the ball is. It’s not intentional. That to be is the largest crime.”
On the membership’s AGM on the eve of the Tangerines conflict, chief govt Michael Nicholson revealed the membership had contacted the SFA after a handball by Hearts defender Michael Smith wasn’t referred for a verify on the opening weekend of the know-how getting used within the Scottish Premiership.
Ange Postecoglou was left scratching his head as to why Steven McLean, in entrance of the monitor on the Clydesdale Home base, didn’t refer match referee Walsh - within the highlight once more after this newest incident - to test it out.
Nicholson mentioned: “Evidently handball is utilized in numerous methods in various international locations. In relation to the precise incident (at Hearts ) we did ask questions on how the principles had been utilized.”
There was a second VAR incident at Parkhead when a excessive Craig Sibbald problem on Giorgos Giakoumakis was checked for a possible purple card regardless of the whistler not even awarding a free kick however the Tangerines man remained on.
Celtic received 4-2 with Dylan Levitt cancelling out Haksabanovic's second however Kyogo and Liel Abada netted within the dying minutes to safe a dramatic win.