Steven Naismith accused Kyogo Furuhashi of trying to win a penalty and bemoaned the use of VAR after Celtic triumphed 4-1 at Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon.
Also blasting his side’s “sloppy” defending and suggesting their woes today were self-inflicted, the Bhoys were given little credit for some excellent attacking play in the Hearts half that racked up a dominant scoreline.
Kyogo was fouled in the box at the start of the second half, with the incident reviewed and signed off on by VAR officials at Clydesdale House. But Naismith accused the Japanese star of trying to manipulate the penalty situation.
He said [BBC Radio Scotland]: “It’s a frustrating one. It has no impact on the game, which is probably the only positive, but for me it’s not a penalty. It’s one where the referee’s made a call but we’re meant to be eradicating these decisions throughout the game. but every week, we’re still talking about whether it’s a penalty or it isn’t. It’s clearly not. Kyogo knows what he’s doing. He’s being intelligent.
“Watching it back, I think Alex knows what’s happening and does well. If anything, Kyogo blocks him getting to the ball. Kyogo’s not interested in the ball and that’s how I saw it. I was expecting it to be overturned. But it’s another week and another decision that’s being spoken about.”
Celtic thoroughly dismantled Hearts today and were well worth the 4-1 scoreline. It’s churlish for Naismith to focus on one incident so much, even when asked. He would later go on to criticise the VAR process.
Suggesting that the goals conceded were purely down to bad defending is a little silly too, which was the thrust of his comments given to PLZ Soccer amongst others.
I don’t think any team in Scotland would have prevented Celtic being victorious today. The attacking combinations, movement and defensive battling were all excellent. Fans, at least, seem to know that.
In other news, Brendan Rodgers enjoys quip at Hearts fans’ expense after Celtic show excellence at Tynecastle.
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