NEWS; Ex-SFA referee brands what he’s heard said about Celtic and VAR

Celtic and Aberdeen now sit sipoints clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a dramatic weekend of football.

The Dons’ visit to Parkhead grabbed the headlines after Jimmy Thelin’s half-time talk inspired Aberdeen’s draw with Celtic after they battled back from 2-0 down to earn a point.

The stalemate allowed Rangers the opportunity to claw back two crucial points in the title race against Kilmarnock but Philippe Clement’s team went down 1-0 at Rugby Park as Rangers blew their big chance to get closer to Celtic at the top of the table.

 

However, it was the big VAR calls at Celtic Park that were on Des Roache’s mind as the former SFA Grade One referee delivered his verdict on two Parkhead flashpoints against Aberdeen on Saturday.

 

Duk’s Aberdeen handball goal vs Celtic sparks referee rant

The first decision Roache looked at was the Aberdeen goal that was disallowed after Duk gave the ball a helping hand to find the back of Kasper Schmeichel’s net.

And agreeing with the decision by Nick Walsh and VAR to chalk the goal off, Roache slammed what he’s heard being said about Celtic and the video refereeing technology.

 

Roache told the Behind the Whistles podcast, “I think it’s rather pathetic that some people are commenting that VAR has kept Celtic at the top of the league.

 

“VAR hasn’t kept Celtic at the top of the league. The laws of the game and the application of the laws of the game have helped Celtic stay where they are because that goal was disallowed.

“But exactly as you said, it was a factual call. And the laws of the game say that that cannot be allowed to stand as a goal. End of discussion.”

 

“To say otherwise is frankly, quite pathetic.

 

“In fact, the only thing with my notes, the only thing I’ve got is a Duk handball, correct decision, because it’s illegal to score a goal with your arm.

 

“So it’s a non-discussion point.”

Another big decision on Roache’s radar was the Luke McCowan trip at the death where Celtic thought they could have had a penalty.

 

Walsh adjudged the infringement to have taken place outside the box and Roache labelled that call as ‘fantastic’

Roache continued, “That just shows you a good old-fashioned referee, and that’s what a good referee does. And it’s irrelevant that the Celtic player fell in the box. He kind of jumped into the box.

 

It’s not where you land, it’s where it started and so that’s a fantastic shout.

 

“It was really good. I thought at the time when you see, you go, ‘Oh, how close is it?’ And you see when Nick puts down the line, I mean, it’s only a matter of inches away from the penalty area line.

 

“But no, it’s easy to criticise but that was a fantastic, fantastic decision. And Nick was all over it.”

 

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