Ex EPL ref spots moment Hibs goal vs Celtic should have been axed as camera 'behind the goal' tells all
VAR has been criticised for not intervening at a key moment in the match
Celtic can consider themselves hard done by due to a refereeing decision in their 2-1 victory over Hibs, according to former Premier League whistler Mark Clattenburg.
After VAR had previously intervened to send off Hibs midfielder Jamie McGrath, Celtic took full advantage when Daizen Maeda opened the scoring before half time. Five minutes later before the break, Hibs skipper Joe Newell tapped the ball in to equalise however as he went to control the ball with his chest but there are claims of it having trickled onto his arm. After a lengthy check from VAR Don Robertson, the goal was given.
The controversial equaliser ended up having little baring on the game as substitute Kelechi Iheanacho sealed a Hoops win in the second half however if Celtic were to have drawn it could’ve had major title race consequences. They now sit level on points with leaders Hearts and four ahead of Rangers, who face each other on Monday evening. Clattenburg believes Newell’s goal shouldn’t have stood and that VAR should’ve identified this from the replays.
Hibs goal ‘wrong’ to have stood
Speaking to 67HailHail, Clattenburg said: “Joe Newell controls the ball with his chest, and as the ball is falling to the ground, it touches his arm. From some angles, it looks a good goal, but there is a camera from behind the goal that shows the ball touches the arm.
“Even though the handball was accidental, the goal was scored directly from this contact, and therefore, the law is clear that the goal must be disallowed. I am surprised that the VAR does not recommend a review, as it would be impossible in real time for the referee to see this action. VAR awarded a goal. It’s wrong as law is clear.”
The handball law leading up to goals has been a slight grey area in Scottish football this season, however in this case, when it leads to a goal from the same player there is very little doubt. After the match, Hoops boss Martin O’Neill gave his assessment of the incident, claiming he was just happy it didn’t affect the outcome of the match.
O’Neill on Hibs equaliser
He said: “So I have the little monitor to the side, which Gavin Strachan sort of controls there, so I’m probably listening to what he’s saying as much as anything else. So, yeah, eventually, I think Gavin thought it was pretty contentious, the equalising goal, he thought that that was the case.
“Naturally, I’m pretty biased now, without even saying it, of course I agree with him, but it is what it is, whatever VAR is going to come up with, it’s going to happen. It worked for us in one aspect, it didn’t work the other way, and I suppose I would have probably, the truth is I probably would have a different opinion and a different answer to you had we lost the game.
“Well, I’m sure, absolutely (VAR could play a big role in the title run-in). I thought, way back when it was introduced for the World Cup in 2018, I thought it was a really good thing. Even now, what, six or seven years on, I really don’t know, I genuinely don’t know whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing. What I think it has done is stop referees from refereeing properly, I think, in the game. But I think that was going to be a natural thing eventually in the course of time.”