"Motherwell's Sam Nicholson leaped for the ball alongside Auston Trusty. Nicholson's elbow was catapulted upwards by Trusty's shoulder. Unless Nicholson has the physical attributes of Inspector Gadget, he headed the ball clear. The likelihood (only that) is the ball touched his hand, sufficiently so for Scotland's dedicated VAR, Andrew Dallas, to alert the match referee. John Beaton took only a brief look at the scene amazingly, given its complexity before pointing to the spot."
"Lineker used social media to amplify the cries of disgust as Celtic were awarded a late, late penalty to win at Motherwell. This might be the worst VAR decision I've seen (and there's a lot of competition), Lineker said. Extraordinary given the significance. Lineker's sentiment was matched, en masse, by those who found it extraordinary the VAR felt the need to intervene."
"This was no place for the VAR to press pause on a moment that, despite this age of the internet, would have received no subsequent attention had it been ignored. The follow-up was typical. Celtic supporters, who would endanger the functionality of the internet were a penalty given against their side in an identical situation, have contorted themselves to deliver all manner of arguments on why the call was correct."
"Sadly for Hearts, the incident in question may prove fatal in their push to make history. Sadly for Celtic, it will be a key reference point in the event of a successful title defence. Gary Lineker played for Tottenham in a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle in 1990, that has never appeared to fuel a lasting affection for Hearts. Lineker is untainted by the Old Firm's suffocating tribalism."
A VAR decision involving an elbow being lifted by a shoulder led to a late, late penalty for Celtic. The incident was described as the worst VAR call seen, with the ball appearing to be headed clear unless it touched the player’s hand. The VAR official alerted the referee after reviewing the contact, and the referee pointed to the spot after a brief look. Many observers found the intervention unnecessary given how the moment would likely have passed without attention if ignored. Celtic supporters argued the call was correct, while others, including a neutral commentator, criticized the decision as illogical, especially because similar situations later resulted in penalties against Celtic.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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