Bernard Ponsonby has wound up Douglas Ross over his officiating in Celtic’s win over Hibs.
Ross is known in both a political and sporting capacity, as the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives. In the midst of Scottish Election season, the pair were on the BBC’s Election Scotland broadcast.
Although best known as STV’s former political correspondent, Ponsonby made headlines for eviscerating Dermot Desmond in a powerful speech last month. He is a passionate, vocal Celtic supporter.
As linesman at Easter Road last week, Ross incorrectly disallowed Daizen Maeda’s opener, being corrected by VAR. Ponsonby was keen to remind him of this…
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Bernard Ponsonby on Douglas Ross Celtic call: ‘Thank goodness for VAR!’
In the clip — via @TamsellicsonIII on X, though taken directly from the BBC’s Election Scotland broadcast — host Martin Geissler said to Ross: “The last time I saw you, you were running the line for the Celtic-Hibs game at Easter Road…”
Ross interjected: “Let’s move on to politics!”
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Geissler continued: “Bernard, what did you think of Douglas’ performance in that match?”
Ponsonby said: “Well, thank goodness for VAR…”
Ross concluded: “That was my thought as well, in fairness…”
Maeda was judged to have been offside when moving to receive a cross from Alistair Johnston, who had attacked with excellent link-up alongside Benjamin Nygren.
More referee controversy followed when Joe Newell’s equaliser was allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check, despite replays appearing to show the ball touching the midfielder’s arm.
Regardless, Kelechi Iheanacho was the hero for Martin O’Neill’s side, scoring the winner with his fourth goal in as many substitute appearances.
Speaking exclusively to 67 Hail Hail, ex-elite referee Mark Clattenburg slammed the Newell decision as ‘wrong,’ saying that the rules were ‘clear’ in defining that the Englishman scored despite a handball offence.
Newell himself admitted being surprised by the decision, a telling indicator. O’Neill, on the other hand, remained coy after the game, refusing to be drawn into referee discourse.
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