Ex-SFA official reacts to controversial call in Celtic vs Rangers clash at Parkhead as footage shared
Former SFA referee Steve Conroy has reacted to the controversial non-penalty decision in the clash between Celtic and Rangers.
The Gers were upset not to have been awarded a spot-kick when Alistair Johnston helped the ball out of play with his hand late in the first half.
As the debate raged through half time and into the second half, it eventually emerged that the decision was down to Abdallah Sima – the man who put Johnston under pressure – being offside.
However, Conroy insists Sima’s positioning would not have mattered unless a penalty was first awarded, as he was not flagged for offside.
“Offside is irrelevant,” the ex-official said, as per Get Involved Referee on Twitter [30 December].
“VAR can only check for an offside if there is a consequence – i.e. a goal. There wasn’t.
“The telling situation is that the game was restarted with a goal kick – not an indirect free kick.”
This basically proves what Rangers supporters already knew. The officials effectively used the offside as an excuse to stop this being a debate.
Ironically, it has turned into more of a debate than it perhaps would have been. Johnston handled the ball, of that there is no doubt.
Sima was also offside, granted, but that was not spotted at the time or else a free-kick would have been given for that infringement.
Basically, the referee and his officials made a call there and then that it was not handball. They decided it was not and play resumed.
While it was not exactly daylight robbery, it was still a decision that really should have gone in the Gers’ favour.
It was a frustrating incident on a disappointing afternoon as the Gers fell to a 2-1 loss.
The Gers thankfully have a chance to put this defeat to one side against Kilmarnock in a few days’ time.
In other Rangers news, the Gers may face a big hurdle in their attempt to sign a second attacking player in January.