Celtic news: Ex-Fifa official issues ‘amazing’ claim shared Rogic footage analysed
The referee was right not to reward Celtic a penalty for a potential handball in their 4-0 thumping of Motherwell yesterday (6 February), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee hailed the “terrific position” and “amazing” energy of match official John Beaton.
As shown on the BBC’s Sportscene programme with the score at 2-0, Tom Rogic hit a strike from just inside the box that was blocked by Moterhwell’s Jake Carroll.
Leil Abada prodded the deflection home but he was in an offside position when the initial shot was struck.
Pundit Kris Boyd said on Sky Sports, as relayed by the Glasgow Times, there was “no doubt” Carroll blocked the shot with his hand and a penalty should have been awarded.
Asked for his verdict on the incident, Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “The referee is in a terrific position, these referees are Scotland really are good at that.
“It’s the player lying on the floor and I’m going with the referee’s decision. I don’t think the referee could be better placed to make the judgement.
“I see what they are getting at but is he in the act of getting up, the player?
“For me, the body language of the Celtic players is what you need to watch. Are they appealing? No, they’re just accepting it.
“It’s a good decision by the referee. He’s brilliantly placed. It’s just amazing how they put that extra energy in to make sure they’re in a great viewing position.”
In other news, Celtic ‘don’t want to air this in public’ after latest on Kyogo Furuhashi.