Keith Hackett ‘amazed’ as Hearts benefit from big VAR call against Kilmarnock
Keith Hackett was left stunned after Elton Kabangu’s opening goal for Hearts was allowed to stand during their 3-2 win over Kilmarnock at Tynecastle.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that he was “amazed” VAR did not intervene to disallow the goal.
Neil Critchley’s side made it six games unbeaten in all competitions with victory over Kilmarnock on Saturday (25 January), with Jamie McCart and Jorge Grant also on the scoresheet.
Hackett though believes that Hearts were fortunate to see their first goal of the afternoon stand for more than one reason.
Hearts take lead over Kilmarnock in remarkable circumstances
Kabangu needed just seven minutes to put the hosts in front against Kilmarnock at the weekend, turning in James Wilson’s ball across goal from close range.
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes though was unhappy that the move began with the Hearts striker seemingly stood in an offside position as a long ball was sent over the top.
McInnes also felt that Kabangu had fouled one of his side’s defenders by hauling him down as both chased possession in the build-up, giving the hosts space to break down the left.
Now Hackett appears to have sympathy with the Kilmarnock boss over both of those claims that were overlooked both by referee John Beaton and VAR official Andrew Dallas.
Giving his verdict on the opening goal scored by Hearts, the former referee told Football Insider:
“You have to say that he looks offside but there will have been a VAR to check, and therefore the one thing that I believe managers, players and fans have got to accept is that where VAR is coming in there’s that check of an offside call done automatically.
“So visually it looks as though he’s offside but it really is looking at the point the ball is played to determine whether in fact he’s active, but he becomes active a bit later.
“When you look at that picture, you can’t tell me that he’s not offside. I think that is a foul so I’m amazed when I look at the picture that the manager’s looking at the player looks well offside.
“We don’t however see the point at which the ball is kicked which is the real factor. But they’ve got VAR and one assumes that VAR’s checked that but I need a bit of convincing.
“I’d like to see the line and I’d like to see the specific review of that offside decision to confirm that the player is onside because when you look, if I’m running the line I’m flagging for offside.
“It does look offside but one assumes clearly that that’s been checked by VAR. That’s what VAR is therefore, and that is a foul.”
With that the first of three goals for Hearts, strikes from the in-demand Bobby Wales and Fraser Murray were not enough to salvage anything for the visitors at Tynecastle.
That ensures Critchley’s side have now moved two points and two places above Kilmarnock to ninth in the current Scottish Premiership table.
In other news, Hearts are among the Scottish Premiership club’s keen to sign a Luton Town player.
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