Referee Kevin Clancy couldn't escape a scathing review by Richard Foster after his decision to award a penalty during Celtic vs Morton gained major scrutiny.
The experienced whistler was called over to the monitor early on in Celtic's 5-0 hammering of the Scottish Championship outfit and upon review awarded a penalty for a handball by Efe Ambrose. VAR official Craig Napier was also questioned strongly by pundits after the former Hoops man was deemed to have been harshly penalised inside the area.
Ange Postecoglou's men would go on to convert only Celtic's third domestic spot-kick this season through Aaron Mooy before goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and David Turnbull sealed progression in the Scottish Cup. The early decision irked Ton boss Dougie Imrie and also received the same verdict from former Rangers defender Foster who lay the blame solely upon the referee.
READ MORE: Celtic player ratings vs Morton as Kyogo Furuhashi and Aaron Mooy shine in big Scottish Cup win
He told BBC Sportscene: "It's a difficult mindset for a team to go to Celtic Park and try and be on the front foot. We have seen Premiership try, so credit to Morton for starting that way. But this (the penalty) completely changes the tie and it's an absolutely farcical decision. He has just got it wrong.
"The referee has obviously went and had a look at it, but that can never be a penalty. His arm is in a perfectly natural position because he is trying to kick the ball away. The ball goes past him and hits his teammate.
"His arm hasn't moved from where he put it, and I don't understand what Kevin Clancy thinks Efe Ambrose can do there. There has been a lot of talk of VAR lately. The right decisions and wrong decisions, but this for me is just the referee making a huge mistake."
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