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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Ben Banks

Chris Sutton baffled by Celtic penalty decision as he highlights call 'fans would have issue' with

Chris Sutton has been left bemused by Celtic not being awarded a penalty in Saturday's Premiership classic with Hearts.

The first televised match with VAR in the Scottish top flight was marred by controversial decisions made by the referee-assisting technology. But the former striker was left stunned when Nick Walsh didn't give a penalty after a handball by Michael Smith in the Hearts penalty box, and that a subsequent VAR check deemed that he had made the right call, despite replays clearly showing the defender's arm being struck by a James Forrest cross.

Sutton says supporters will no doubt be left up in arms about it but it didn't impact the final outcome as Ange Postecoglou's men ran out 4-3 winners. He's even more confused over why it took so long to resolve what appeared to him to be a straight forward decision. He told the BBC: "I think a lot of Celtic fans would have issue with the incident just before half-time.

READ MORE: Conor Hazard keeping Celtic 'dream' alive as he targets number one spot after Helsinki heroics

"It was James Forrest and Michael Smith. Steven McLean was the (VAR) referee. It looked like a penalty, and most people would say Michael Smith moved his hand towards the ball.

"Why did it take so long for the award of the Hearts penalty, where most people would says in real-time that it should have been a penalty?

"Then it took such a short space of time to rule out the Celtic one, when that looked an absolute stonewaller?"

READ NEXT:

- Ange Postecoglou's powerful Celtic title speech surfaces as Josip Juranovic quip lands death stare

- Celtic player ratings v Hearts as Giakoumakis and Jenz have contrasting afternoon during VAR chaos

- Ange Postecoglou delivers Celtic penalty stat and sends VAR warning to Premiership managers

- Celtic and Rangers hit with UEFA fines after Champions League fan incidents

- Celtic triumph over Hearts as Forrest continues comeback arc in classic - three things we learned

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