Ex-Fifa official: Celtic profit from major injustice as controversial Joe Hart footage emerges
Joe Hart was lucky not to give away a penalty as Celtic beat Ross County 3-1 on Saturday (6 August), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed VAR would have intervened on Hart’s push on Jordan Tillson.
With the scores at 1-1, Hart had collected a cross and was rushing out to distribute the ball to launch a counter-attack.
The 35-year-old barged into Tillman who went down clutching his head but no sanction was forthcoming.
“He pushed him,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Players have got to be very careful with what they do in the course of a match.
“What Joe Hart has done here is a bit silly. He’s got the ball so why is he worried?
“What he’s done is push his opponent. He’s extended his right arm and straightened it. Now, he’s fortunate that’s not been picked up by the referee. Joe Hart has committed a foul, no question.
“Had the referee seen that, he would have given a penalty kick, no doubt. It might have seen harsh at the time.
“What Joe Hart has got to remember is VAR is coming after the World Cup and these types of incidents can get blown up quite quickly.
“I’m not overly critical of the referee and Joe Hart has probably done it a million times in the past but with VAR, it’s a penalty, you can’t push an opponent and that’s what he’s done.
“VAR will pick up on that. The referee doesn’t have a cat in hells chance of picking that up and he’s not looking, he wouldn’t be focused on it.”
In other news, Celtic have been told to accept a “£2.5million” Albian Ajeti bid after an update.