I’m nailing my colours firmly to the mast on this one.
The penalty that St Mirren got on Sunday was never a penalty. Never in a month of, well, Sundays.
For too long Celtic have been victims of this crazy VAR handball rule where Bernabei and O’Riley have both been penalised for supposed handballs.
Both of which were so close to the players body that they could not do anything to get out of the way of the ball.
And the same happened with Greg Taylor against St Mirren yesterday.
When you look at the footage below, Taylor is not even looking at the ball when the St Mirren player plays it off his arm.
But it was former Celtic star Peter Grant’s take on the penalty, and his subsequent change of mind that really caught my ear.
Grant said on the live BBC commentary when the penalty was awarded, “It’s interesting to see what he was going to give here because it was so close and sometimes they say if they are that close then they don’t give the penalty kick.
“But he’s decided to give it because Greg’s hand’s, more for balance than anything else, he’s (the St Mirren player) flicked it over, he’s tried to flick it over his head.
“It’s definitely hit his arm. Whether it’s a penalty kick, I’m not sure because usually when it’s as close as that they usually say no.”
Here is the footage of the penalty:
St Mirren penalty v Celtic for handball.
St Mirren player sending off. pic.twitter.com/TWBZFWEaum— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) March 5, 2023
After reviewing the footage, Grant seemed to change his mind, “When you look at it now, it looks like a penalty kick.
“His hand is high. It’s the right decision, the referee has made the right decision.
“He’s stopped the ball going through.”
I’ve said on here often enough that I have a lot of time for Grant. One of my favourite pundits out there but he has got this one completely wrong.
In his original argument he claimed that usually when the ball to hand is that close, penalties are denied. So why then when a ball is played from half a yard to Taylor’s arm was this penalty given?
We all know the answer to that question but it is yet another example of how VAR is benefitting only one club in Glasgow whilst the other continually gets punished by it.
Having seen the video provide I can understand why Peter would change his mind, it looks as though Greg has moved his body towards the ball, however I agree that it being as close should it be deemed a penalty? We need both clarification and consistency, look at Kilmarnocks no penalty.
Celtic will very seldom get the verdict from VAR.!! Why why why can it not be a level playing field? Celtic always seem to be the ” poor relations” when it comes to VAR. BUT BUT, it is the same referees on the VAR, and as for Andy Dallas? He has already called me afenian bast”‘:!, so I expect nothing from him at all. I know what his mindset is. And his leanings towards the ibrokes side.. As Andy Walker ( another jobs worth) says , why are we as a club, along with others are accepting this VAR shambles!?? Same refs same 1690 mentality!? Nothing more nothing less. At 77 years of ag3 ,I have seen my fair share of the 1690 brigade. But as Big Jock always said, put the ball in the net!!. And he also said he” lost” a lot of ” friends” when he bacame manager of Glasgow Celtic. ( Wonder what he meant?). Watch your knuckles maite.!!.Hail Haill
Granty getting a reminder in his earpiece who is paying his wages.
But it’s Celtic can we expect anything else, let’s just do the treble and watch them squirm .HH..