As Celtic set off for Hampden on Sunday for their League Cup final against St Mirren, Hearts pulled further clear at the top of the Premiership table.
Derek McInnes’ side are now six points ahead of Celtic after their 2-0 win at Falkirk, although Wilfried Nancy’s side do have two games in hand.
The last time Celtic were at Hampden, it was chaos because Martin O’Neill was in charge as the Hoops saw off Rangers in extra time, with many talking points during the match.
One of them included Anthony Ralston being punished for handball, which allowed Rangers back into the game.
But going by what happened during Hearts’ win against Falkirk on Saturday evening, you wonder if Celtic’s right-back was unfortunate.
How do you feel about officiating in Scottish football?
Harry Milne’s handball claim as Hearts beat Falkirk
Just before half-time and with Hearts winning 1-0, Falkirk’s Kyrell Wilson races through on goal, calmly rounds the goalkeeper, before his shot is blocked off the line by Harry Milne.
The incident wasn’t much different from the one for which Ralston was punished at Hampden.
Milne has his arm by his side. He is falling over, the ball hits his arm, and the shot is blocked.
In this case, Falkirk weren’t awarded a penalty, and you can bet your bottom dollar it got many questioning the call and the consistency of officials in Scotland.
Celtic fans recall Anthony Ralston incident as Hearts beat Falkirk
The Celtic supporters don’t forget, and after watching the Milne handball, many of them brought up the Ralston incident from Hampden.
If you are honest, an incident such as this shouldn’t be punished, and no penalty should be awarded.
But supporters would be far happier if there were more consistency around this, rather than one day it being a penalty and the next something else.
@gIaikit called for consistency after the Ralston call: ‘If Ralston’s was a stonewalled in the cup semifinal, then so was this. The rules are being made up weekly.’
@OnlyOurRiversRF stayed with that theme: ‘That’s not a penalty for me! Same as Ralston at Hampden though, refs eh..’
@brendanh61 made his feelings clear: ‘Who was on VAR? Stevie Wonder.’
@McKinnz88 noted how Ralston’s arm was ‘by his side’: ‘Ralston got a pen given against him, same thing, arm by the side.’
@cjs80 with a sarcastic response: ‘Great save. Moves arm to the ball.’
@FCairns3 is still backing Celtic to win the league, regardless of the officiating: ‘Irrelevant. Celtic will win the league by 10 points.’
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