IT took exactly 28 SECONDS for VAR operator Steven McLean to review and dismiss Celtic’s valid penalty-kick claim at Tynecastle yesterday.
Hearts defender Michael Smith clearly motioned his left hand to stop a pass from James Forrest in first-half stoppage-time with the game deadlocked at 1-1 following the hosts’ penalty-kick equaliser, courtesy of new technology.
The game had been held up for around a minute and a half as VAR scrutinised a challenge by Cameron Carter-Vickers on Cammy Devlin which was deemed fair by referee Nick Walsh.
However, he received a word in his ear that his colleagues in the video control room were looking again at the incident which happened in the 44th minute with the champions leading with a goal from James Forrest.
A WORD IN YOUR EAR…Nick Walsh receives instructions from Steven McLean in the VAR control room.
Walsh was told to have a look again at the tackle on the trackside monitor and as the match official made his way towards the screen it was clear to everyone of a Celtic persuasion what was going to happen next.
A quick glimpse was enough for the whistler to return to the pitch and point to the spot. Scottish football history had been made in that moment. It was the first time a ref had been asked to look at a TV monitor to review a potential foul and the Parkhead side were on the end of the reversal of an original judgement.
Substitute Lawrence Shankland accepted the gift and thrashed the award behind Joe Hart.
With the clock ticking down to half-time, the second incident occurred. Walsh had a clear view of Smith’s handball, but, remarkably, decided to wave play on.
LEAD-UP TO THE ‘NO-PENALTY’ INCIDENT…James Forrest appears ready to take on Michael Smith.
FLICK FORWARD…James Forrest attempts to clip in a cross as Michael Smith makes his move.
HANDBALL…the Hearts defender motions his left hand towards James Forrest’s pass.
VAR interrupted to have another look at the moment. Ange Postecoglou and the Hoops support believed it was only a matter of time before the whistler again pointed to the spot.
Amazingly, not even half a minute later, the appeal was thrown out and Walsh resumed play.
How many angles could have been looked at in such a short space of time? Remember, too, it is in slow motion.
Twenty-eight seconds was all it took for a stonewall penalty-kick claim to be knocked back. Frankly, that’s preposterous.
STONEWALLER…well, it looks that way, doesn’t it? Michael Smith clearly handles James Forrest’s flick. Astoundingly, VAR saw it differently. Images courtesy Sky Sports.
Possibly, no-one should have been surprised because it appears referee McLean has problems spotting handballs.
It was the same whistler who was in charge of Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden on April 19 2015.
Ronny Deila’s men were coasting following a sublime free-kick from Virgil van Dijk with the interval approaching.
Leigh Griffiths popped up at the far post to head the ball towards goal. His effort was sailing for the net before defender Josh Meekings clearly thrust out a right hand to divert the ball away from its target.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT…Ange Postecoglou can’t believe the decision not to award Celtic a clear penalty-kick.
YOU’RE JOKING…Ange Postecoglou’s emotions are clear as play restarts – after a quickfire VAR review lasting a mere 28 SECONDS.
It was an obvious penalty-kick and the Caley defender should also have seen red for his actions.
McLean, extraordinarily, waved play on and, inexplicably, none of his assistants, including goalside ref Alan Muir and linesman Frank Connor, appeared to witness the illegal block by Meekings.
The referee proved he hadn’t forgotten his red card when he brandished in lightning fashion under the nose of Craig Gordon 10 minutes after the turnaround. At the same time, he awarded the Highlanders a penalty-kick and replacement keeper Lukasz Zaluska’s first participation was to retrieve the ball from the back of the net.
It’s history now that Deila’s side lost 3-2 in extra-time.
NO PENALTY-KICK, NO RED CARD…Leigh Griffiths sees his header clearly handled by Inverness Caley Thistle defender Josh Meekings during the 2015 Scottish Cup semi-final. Steven McLean was the match official who missed the incident.
Over a YEAR later, McLean accepted responsibility for failing to award as blatant and obvious a penalty-kick anyone could image, a bewildering decision which blew the club’s chances of a domestic treble.
On May 18 2016, CQN reported McLean’s quotes. He said: “Of course, we learn from all experiences. Obviously, that was an incident that was missed.
“It was disappointing on the day and I take ultimate responsibility for it. But we have a referee team and we share responsibility, so it’s important that we learn from those incidents.”
With or without the introduction of new technology, it appears nothing ever changes.
A FIRST FOR MATCHWINNER TAYLOR ON A DAY OF VAR CONTROVERSY
