Celtic are set to raise major concerns over the SFA’s handling of VAR after the Connor Goldson Old Firm flashpoint became the latest video nasty for the Hoops.
Record Sport understands Parkhead chiefs are looking for talks with Hampden officials for clarification regarding the ongoing issues surrounding the video assistant referee process. Celtic are unhappy at a number of calls since the set up was brought in before the World Cup – with the latest incident last Ibrox causing more angst.
The Hoops were incensed at VAR decisions that went against them in clashes against Hearts, Ross County and Dundee United. And in the derby showdown they were convinced ref John Beaton should have been instructed to take another look after the ball appeared to strike Goldson’s hand in the box in Monday’s thrilling 2-2 draw. The rule book does allow players to get off the hook if they make themselves bigger in a reflex action to protect their face.
But former Celtic star Chris Sutton branded the decision incredible – and laid the blame at the door of Monday’s VAR chief Willie Collum. The Record Sport columnist said: “It’s not about John Beaton not going over to have a look. He’s acting on advice he’s getting from the VAR officials and they’ve told him he’s made the correct call that it was not a penalty.
“But I find that incredible. It’s not up for debate – it was a penalty kick. That would have been given every single time in England. There wouldn’t even be an argument.
“Some people are saying Goldson was protecting his face, what, with his hands above his head? Come off it. That is nonsense.
"You are talking about a big, tough, centre half, he wasn’t ducking down to protect his face. He made himself bigger. You can twist the rulebook anyway you want but it’s down to interpretation and we’ve seen that kind of penalty all the time.
“You have to wonder what Willie Collum in the VAR hut is doing in that situation. What is he seeing? It makes you wonder, is it incompetence or did he just bottle out of making the big call?
“Who knows, but it was a terrible decision. There have been a lot of poor handball calls this season, some really stupid decisions. It’s all about being the arms being outside the silhouette of the body and so on, so if you arms are up where Goldson’s were, there was absolutely nowhere for the officials to go.
“Whether Celtic deserved something out of the game or not is irrelevant – that’s a huge moment.”
But former top ref Stuart Dougal has defended Collum. The video assistant studied the incident but did not offer Beaton the chance to take a second look on the pitchside monitor.
Dougal backed that decision but also insisted VAR would not have intervened if Beaton had given the spot-kick.
He told BBC: “The current laws at the moment are: ‘Did the player make himself unnaturally bigger? Has there actually been a handball?’ If you’re a Celtic fan I’m sure you’re going to claim, ‘Yeah, I can see a little nick there’.
“If it does, where is it hitting? It looks as if it’s going to hit his head, so he’s not making his body unnaturally bigger. Another key factor here is, are his hands outwith his body? No.
“The distance between the two players is something else that VAR and the referee would take into consideration. And is it conclusive that there is actually a handball where the hands are above the shoulder or beyond?
“When you take them all together, I’ll let other people make up their mind whether they would give a penalty or not. The reason VAR didn’t get involved in it is that they don’t see a clear and obvious error.
“If you think that was a handball because the hands are big and above the head, then you’re entitled to give a penalty kick. I don’t think VAR would get involved then either. That refereeing decision has really got to stand whether or not the Celtic fans think it’s fair.”
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