Celtic victims of VAR blunder as James Forrest controversy analysed – pundit
Alan Hutton has claimed Celtic should have been awarded a penalty against Hearts on Saturday (22 October).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Rangers defender didn’t understand why referee Nick Walsh did not award a spot kick.
As shown on Sky Sports (22 October), James Forrest tried to play in Daizen Maeda but the Hearts defender stopped the ball with his arm.
Walsh waved away the Hoops’ penalty shouts and VAR official Steven McLean did not intervene.
Ange Postecoglou’s side went on to win the game 4-3 and put themselves five points clear of Glasgow rivals Rangers.
Speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch (24 October), former whistler Dermot Gallagher said that the threshold for handball is different in Scotland compared to England.
But, the ex-referee insisted the penalty would have been awarded in the Premier League.
Hutton agreed that the Green and Whites should have been awarded a spot kick.
“I thought it was a handball,” he told Football Insider.
“I think the interpretations of the rule are slightly different in Scotland but at the end of the day it works well in England. If your hands are away from your body when you are in the box and it hits it, it is a penalty normally.
“You see Smith’s reaction as well, he blows his cheeks out and turns away as if he is trying to hide. You can’t get away from it.
“So my original thought was that it is a penalty and then seeing it again, it was a penalty for me. I do not understand why it was not given.“
In other news, McManus has backed Robbie Neilson as Celtic fans fume at ‘absolutely rattled’ jibe.