Celtic’s defeat at Dundee was a sore one to take but were the Bhoys unfairly denied a penalty? Mark Clattenburg says he can understand why it was awarded in the first instance.
The former FIFA referee, however, still has one question about why it took VAR so long to come to their conclusion after we asked his view on the disallowed penalty after Celtic’s defeat to Dundee.
Brendan Rodgers lost his unbeaten start to the domestic season after Celtic put in an insipid performance against one of the worst teams in the league.
And here, Clattenburg explains why the penalty Celtic supporters thought they had awarded to give them a lifeline, was correctly disallowed by the video referee.
Mark Clattenburg can ‘fully understand’ why Celtic were awarded the Dundee penalty
Not many Celtic supporters will disagree with the decision to rule out the penalty after VAR spotted that the ball had hit the Dundee defender in the face.
And Clattenburg fully supports that call.
Clattenburg exclusively told 67 Hail Hail, “I can understand why the referee Matthew MacDermid initially awarded a penalty for a handball against Paul Digby of Dundee.
“Digby’s arms were above his head and trying to block the shot, so I can fully understand the referee’s call, however, the replays are clear and it is fortunate that the ball hits the head and not the arm.
“This is a very good use of VAR to recommend a review and change the penalty decision to a drop ball but I am not sure why it took so long in the review process to make the decision as it was clear it hit the head and there was no use of the arm.”
Potential ramifications of Hearts vs Celtic fixture
Celtic face Hearts at Tynecastle next Sunday in what is shaping up to be a crucial game for Brendan Rodgers.
The Celtic manager knows he must avoid defeat at all costs because it looks like Hearts are going to keep up their great start to the season.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| 2 |  CelticCeltic | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 17 |
| 3 |  HibernianHibernian | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 11 |
| 4 |  Dundee UtdDundee Utd | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 10 |
| 5 |  KilmarnockKilmarnock | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 10 |
| 6 |  RangersRangers | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 9 |
If Celtic lose in Edinburgh, an eight-point gap opens up at the top of the league and with Kilmarnock and Falkirk up next, Rodgers faces another two ties that are tricky, albeit he will be at home at Celtic Park.
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