Just imagine the reaction if Celtic had dropped points against Hibernian on Sunday.
That call to allow Joe Newell’s goal against Celtic would have been headline news, but thankfully, it didn’t prove costly; that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be talked about.
You have heard all the reasoning behind the goal standing at Easter Road: ‘insufficient evidence’, according to VAR, but Dermot Gallagher has gone one better by bringing Liam Scales into the conversation.
When Newell brought down the ball, and he was about to strike it, Scales was in front of the Hibs defender, backpedalling towards the goal line and trying to stop the shot.
Gallagher claimed that Scales initially trying to handle the ball before ‘letting it go’ is seemingly proof that the correct call was made by the on-field referee and VAR.
“I don’t think it’s as conclusive as you think,” said Gallagher. “If you look at Liam Scales, number five, he has the best view of that. His first priority is to get back. He even considers handling the ball on the line. He thinks, shall I or shan’t I.
“I think it’s a tough call. In cases like that, are we 100% sure? You watch Liam Scales; he has the best view. He considers handling the ball. He lets it go.”
Do you agree with Mark Clattenburg on Hibs’ goal against Celtic?
Dermot Gallagher brings Liam Scales into the argument to defend Hibs’ handball goal
Why can’t former referees just criticise active officials for making mistakes? They have to defend everything and anything.
Imagine trying to sell that convoluted logic to the Celtic supporters: that Newell’s goal was seemingly allowed to stand because Scales almost handled the ball, but since he had ‘the best view’ and pulled his hand away, it somehow proves the Hibs man committed no offence.
First and foremost, Scales is in the heat of the action, and players do all kinds of things during these split-pressure-cooker moments.
And even if the Irishman had the ‘best view’, you have VAR in place for a reason, so you can see umpteen replays and angles to make the wrongs on the field right.
Thankfully, when Gallagher was spouting his rubbish on Ref Watch on Sky Sports News, former Premier League forward Jay Bothroyd was shutting down his nonsense and explaining why Hibs’ equaliser should have been disallowed.
Bothroyd: “In the Scottish Premiership, they have been very consistent with the handballs. But just recently, decisions like this, which have been handballs, it seems like the threshold has moved a little.
“But I look at that, and I say, ‘it’s hit his arm high. Then it hit his wrist. The ball has dropped into his pathway really nicely, and he has scored from it.’
“I don’t understand how they can give that. I don’t know what they are looking at, because it’s hit his hand on a few occasions, and he has scored from it.”
Gallagher: “I don’t think it’s as conclusive as you think. If you look at Liam Scales, number five, he has the best view of that. His first priority is to get back. He even considers handling the ball on the line. He thinks, shall I or shan’t I.
“I think it’s a tough call. In cases like that, are we 100% sure? You watch Liam Scales; he has the best view. He considers handling the ball. He lets it go.”
Bothroyd: “This view here (from behind the goal). You can see it has hit his wrist, for sure, and he has scored from it. It can’t be a goal. I am sure about that. I am sure it has hit his wrist.
“When you are on the pitch, it’s all happening quickly. You might not see that. But we are privy to this. I am looking at that, and I can see it has hit his wrist for sure. Again, that shouldn’t be a goal.”
Gallagher: “The unfortunate thing with this law is the zero tolerance. If you look at football in general, the laws allow certain referees latitude, challenges, and such like.
“But with this being zero tolerance, it makes it very, very difficult for the referee, because you have to go; that’s definitely right. There is no on or off switch. It’s all or nothing.”
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