Ex-Fifa official: Callum McGregor victim of major injustice as controversial footage analysed at Celtic
Armenia’s goal in their 4-1 loss to Scotland in the Nations League on Thursday (14 June) should have been ruled out for a foul on Celtic captain Callum McGregor.
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about two potential fouls in the build-up to Vahan Bichakhchyan’s opener.
Armenia won the ball back on the edge of their own penalty area through a challenge on McGregor before launching a quick counter-attack.
Tigran Barseghyan then took the ball past by Norwich City’s Grant Hanley who also felt he had been fouled.
Ally McCoist said on Premier Sports that the referee could have brought the play back on both occasions.
“I think Ally McCoist is spot on,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I think there have been two fouls that have been ignored by the referee or not detected by the referee.
“The first one is an easy one. For me, that’s one that he’s missed. He’s close by and thought ‘Well fine, I’m not giving it’.
“There was a bit of a push if you look at it. The referee’s said ‘Ok, let’s go’.
“The second one is a foul. It’s tight but that one should have been blown. The first one might be iffy, the referee’s quite close by and seen it.
“The second one he’s trying to get by and done the full-back. Maybe not two but certainly one.
“This is the nature of the game, how referees can be caught out of position, as this guy has been and how you judge it.
“Scotland were unfortunate but this is something they’ve got to learn, play to the whistle.”
In other news, John Kennedy could be replaced at Celtic by a ‘big name’ with ‘star status’ after a Sky update.