That could have ended very ugly for Celtic.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored yet another winner for Celtic against Hibernian on Sunday at Easter Road, but only after Joe Newell’s goal stood in the first half, despite shouts of handball.
The law is pretty clear: if the ball hits the hand or arm of a player, intentional or unintentional, and he proceeds to put the ball into the back of the net during the same action, then the goal should be disallowed.
But Newell’s goal stood against Celtic to the annoyance of the fans, as VAR felt it couldn’t overturn the on-field call, which was a goal, because there wasn’t ‘sufficient evidence’ to do so, as Sky Sports presenter Eilidh Barbour explained.
“The VAR opinion, in what was quite a lengthy check, is that there wasn’t enough sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision,” shared Barbour.
Do you agree with Mark Clattenburg on Hibs’ goal against Celtic?
Why VAR allowed Joe Newell’s goal for Hibernian against Celtic
Hibs were reduced to ten men after 20 minutes when Jamie McGrath was shown a red card for his reckless challenge on Alistair Johnston.
Soon after, Daizen Maeda would open the scoring, but just before the break, Newell would score following a set play.
Celtic didn’t create many clear-cut chances in the second half, as that Newell goal, and the decision to allow it, was ringing in the heads of all Hoops supporters.
Thankfully, Iheanacho scored from the bench again, but when Barbour explained to the Sky pundits why Newell’s goal stood, you even had Kris Boyd questioning it, which tells you everything.
Eilidh Barbour: “Then the slightly contentious moment in the game, which didn’t have a bearing on the outcome.
“But one that all three of you (Kris Boyd, James McFadden and Aidan McGeady) were all questioning, as to whether the ball touched Joe Newell’s hand.
“The VAR opinion, in what was quite a lengthy check, is that there wasn’t enough sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision. Do you agree with that?”
Boyd: “For me, it did look from one angle that it did hit his arm. There are other angles out there where it looks like it doesn’t hit his arm.
“But once the goal has been given on the field, and there isn’t conclusive evidence that it hits his arm. There, it looks like it hits the t-shirt line. Hits the body, then hits the arm again.
“But we have to just trust the technology and the officials. Celtic, there would have been an outcry if they didn’t get the result. I do think it brushes his arm.”
McFadden: “I think it runs down his forearm. For me, it hits his arm.”
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