CELTIC two penalty-kick awards in the 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road were correct.
Former Premiership referee Bobby Madden agreed with match official Nick Walsh and VAR assistant Andrew Dallas in the calls during a frantic confrontation in Edinburgh.
The first came after a fourth-minute sickening clash of heads when defender Nectarious Trantis sent Alistair Johnston crashing to the turf after an aerial duel.
The game was held up for five minutes while the Canadian World Cup right-back had onfield medical treatment before being stretchered off and taken to hospital.
WAIT FOR IT…referee Nick Walsh is about to review the second penalty-kick decision while Celtic’s Callum McGregor and Adam Idah hold their breath as Hibs ‘culprit’ Joe Newell tries to explain his foul tackle on Kyogo Furuhashi.
Walsh immediately pointed to the spot and, after the delay, new Bhoy Adam Idah, who joined a week ago today on loan from Norwich City, stepped up to fire the award wide of David Marshall.
Madden, as reported in the Scottish Sun, took to social media to give his verdict on both spot-kicks and at the first he said: “On field decision penalty. This is a clear penalty.
“If you play the ball with your foot and a defender careless/recklessly kicks your foot it’s a foul/penalty.
“Just because it’s your head doesn’t make it any different. Ball played by attacker and late contact so foul/penalty. This would be given in every league in the world and if not awarded by the referee VAR would intervene.”
With the game ticking towards a 1-1 stalemate, Kyogo Furuhashi was sent tumbling just inside the box after a desperate challenge from Joe Newell.
SEEING DOUBLE…Adam Idah (above) slots away the first penalty-kick award early in the game and (below) the new Bhoy stages an action replay with the second in stoppage-time.
Walsh waved played on before VAR stepped in to instruct the match official to review the incident on the touchline monitor. After a second look, a second penalty was given and once again Idah stepped up to flash the award wide of Marshall.
Madden added: “On field decision play on, VAR recommends on field review and penalty awarded.
“Similar to the previous incident the ball is played by attacker (it doesn’t matter that he got his shot away) and late, reckless contact comes from defender.
“With clear evidence there can’t be any other option than an on field review and penalty kick.”
IDAH DOUBLE PENALTY STRIKE ON NIGHT OF HIGH ANXIETY
