McManus fumes as ‘crazy’ Celtic footage analysed – ‘I am 50 miles away in Glasgow’
The decision to award Hearts a first-half penalty against Celtic was correct.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the latest VAR controversy.
Celtic experienced VAR in the Premiership for the first time as they beat a defiant Hearts side 4-3 on Saturday (22 October).
At the end of the first half, Cammy Devlin was chopped down in the box by Cameron Carter-Vickers but Nick Walsh waved away claims for a penalty.
After a lengthy delay, a penalty was eventually awarded and converted, bringing Hearts level.
McManus couldn’t believe the referee needed VAR to award the spot kick.
“Crazy game, I thought it was a stonewaller,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“When you look at it from the first view, I don’t know why the referee didn’t give it. He maybe wanted to give himself a bit more time but if I am 50 miles away in Glasgow and I can see it was a penalty then so can he.
“He just catches him late, it’s a stonewaller. I understand that there are going to be teething problems. I remember when it first came into the Premier League, there was a lot of time to get decisions.
“It was maybe two or three minutes, which is too long. I think they got there in the end so that one was right for me.”
Celtic are next in action against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday (25 October).
They then return to league action against Livingston on Sunday (30 October).
In other news, one pundit can’t believe a new Celtic and Rangers controversy after SPFL development.