Ex-Fifa official ‘100 per cent’ sure on Cameron Carter-Vickers as Celtic controversy analysed
Keith Hackett has applauded VAR for penalising Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers against Hearts on Saturday (22 October).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Fifa and Premier League officials is “100 per cent” sure that the contact was sufficient for a spot-kick.
As shown on Sky Sports (24 October), Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin went to ground under a challenge from Carter-Vickers in the first half of Celtic’s 4-3 win at Tynecastle.
Referee Nick Walsh did not initially point to the spot.
However, on the advice of VAR, Walsh consulted the pitch-side monitor and pointed to the spot.
Lawrence Shankland scored the resulting penalty to equalise for the hosts on the stroke of half-time.
When asked by Football Insider if the officials were right to penalise Carter-Vickers for his challenge on Devlin, Hackett said: “This is exactly what VAR is for.
“I thought it worked extremely well. The signalling was good. The referee had his finger to his ear and told the players to halt. He then made a clear signal that he was going to look at it again on the monitor.
“There is always a danger when you watch things in slow motion that they will look worse. Nonetheless, the decision was 100 per cent correct.
“That is exactly what VAR if for. The referee was in a good position but it is very difficult for him to spot that in real time.”
In other news, Tam McManus has claimed this is when Ange Postecoglou will leave Celtic to join a ‘bigger’ club.