Willie Collum was in the middle of it at Hampden on Saturday as Celtic edged out a resilient Kilmarnock side to reach the Viaplay Cup final - but it wasn't a game short of refereeing controversy.
While the scoreline would suggest it was something of a routine 2-0 win for the men in green and white, in reality it was far from it with a number of officiating decisions once again dominating the headlines. Celtic had two goals chopped off while Kilmarnock were denied a late penalty while still 1-0 in a fiery clash that heated things up in the wind and rain in Glasgow's southside.
On-field whistler Collum and VAR Greg Aitken had their work cut out for them as the offside lines came out, the handball rulebook was dusted off and the roars of 'PENALTY!' reverberated around the city. Record Sport run the rule over four big calls that dominate the narrative in the aftermath of the Hampden showpiece.
Maeda handball check
Derek McInnes revealed Kyle Lafferty was champing at the bit to get his comeback and while he was made to wait for it at Celtic Park last week, the experienced striker was let loose at Hampden. But his dream return quickly turned into a nightmare as less than 20 minutes into his first start since October, his attempted clearance was diverted into the net by Daizen Maeda.
A searching Aaron Mooy set piece caused Killie a problem and Lafferty tried to turn the ball out for a corner - only for it to hit Maeda and end up in the back of the net. Not much was made of this one at the time but VAR did check it for handball, as the ball did appear to strike the Japan striker's arm on its way towards goal.
Ultimately though it was ruled his arms were in a natural position and given Lafferty's close proximity and the pace on the ball, it would have been harsh to give it. This was a good example of how VAR should operate - quietly and efficiently in the background with minimal fuss.
Hatate offside
Celtic thought they had doubled their lead twice before Giorgos Giakoumakis eventually killed the game off deep into stoppage time and the first that didn't stand came through Reo Hatate. Josip Juranovic had a strike at goal and the ball deflected kindly off Ash Taylor into Hatate's path, before he slotted the ball beyond Sam Walker.
This one was given on the pitch as the flag went up and Hatate was clearly in an offside position. VAR did come into play, though, to decide whether it was an intentional movement from Taylor to play the ball.
Had it been an intentional action from Taylor then rules state the goal should have stood. But since it was deemed unintentional, the flag was raised and VAR in this instance decided that was the correct decision.
Kyogo offside
There was more than a whiff of good fortune about Maeda's opener but he thought he had a stunning second near the hour mark. As aesthetically pleasing goals go, this one was a scorcher as Kyogo played Maeda through with a deft flick round the corner and his countryman curled it beyond the keeper.
Unfortunately for Celtic though, this one wasn't to stand either. The linesman didn't spot this one but VAR did as replays showed Kyogo was just offside in the build-up. McInnes admitted he didn't even sense an offside and neither did much of Hampden.
His standing foot was just beyond the last Killie man Lewis Mayo and while the margins were as close as you are ever likely to see, VAR did its job.
Kilmarnock penalty
Giakoumakis got the killer second in the end but he was very nearly the villain just minutes earlier. Joe Wright went down under a clumsy challenge in the box from the Greek and Derek McInnes was left fuming that Collum wasn't even called over for a double check – and that's proved to be the biggest bug bear of managers, players, pundits and punters.
There was an air of sympathy from the Kilmarnock boss towards the on-pitch whistler as it was VAR Aitken who got it in the neck. he said: "What’s the point in me speaking to the referee? Seriously, what is the point. VAR should be speaking to the referee. That’s the conversation that needs to be had – not me after the event.
"Celtic are through to a final. Pre-VAR, post-VAR, that’s a penalty kick. And how we can’t get to the right decision…Giakoumakis just gets a bit excitable. He’s clumsy, it’s a striker’s challenge. He stumbles into the back of Joe Wright, with two arms round his waist. It’s a penalty kick.
“Whoever’s on the VAR has to be big enough to say to the referee ‘Are you sure you’ve seen this right, you need to come and see this again. You’ve got a really experienced referee there and you need experienced people to ask the experienced referee to have another look at it. ‘Are you sure you’ve seen it right?’ What does it take? 30 seconds? I think if he sees it again he’ll give a penalty.”
Celtic boss Postecoglou, meanwhile, swerved the question for the most part - though did hint at a bit of good luck going his side's way. In an apparent nod to Rangers boss Michael Beale, he said: "I don't know about fortune, I am a lucky man, so maybe it is filtering through to the players as well. He did well. Credit to Derek and his boys, they gave everything. It's a semi-final of a cup and that's what you expect."
Anywhere else on the pitch? You'd expect a foul given for this one.
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