Celtic victims of VAR blunder as James Forrest controversy analysed - pundit

Celtic victims of VAR blunder as James Forrest controversy analysed - pundit

Connor Humm

A broadcast journalism masters graduate from Salford University, Connor has worked for Breaking Media since April 2024. He is Social Media Director and responsible for overseeing Football Insider's Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Threads and WhatsApp pages. Connor bleeds red-and-white, and is an avid Arsenal supporter who covered the club's 2025 pre-season Asia tour for Football Insider's social team.

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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."

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