Celtic supporters tease Derek McInnes after desperate handball claim

By David Walton

November 21, 2021

The Celtic supporters have been teasing Derek McInnes after his desperate attempt to call the winning goal yesterday as a handball.

McInnes got it horribly wrong yesterday when he tried to state that VAR would’ve ruled out Celtic’s goal against St Johnstone. The strike, netted by James Forrest, came after an accidental handball by Jota in the build-up. The Portuguese starlet would dart beyond his man and get a cross in that Forrest would eventually fire home.

Post-match, McInnes said the following via Premier Sports 1 [20/11, 19:15]: “I think it has to be said, if that’s in England with VAR that goal doesn’t stand. It is fine margins. We didn’t think it was a handball at the time (the pundits), we were just congratulating the fine finish from James Forrest and Celtic for capitalising on the mistake, but it is clearly a handball.

“Until we have VAR up here goals like that will stand.”

Well, Derek, when we do get VAR up here, goals like that will still stand. The reason being because IFAB changed the rules earlier this year to ensure that accidental handballs in the build-up to goals no longer go penalised [The Independent].

Celtic didn’t get away with one against St Johnstone

You would’ve at least thought Derek knew the rules of football before going on yesterday. Especially considering he can’t contain himself in bringing it up when it goes in favour of Celtic.

There’s next to no controversy here. The only debatable decision of the day was whether Shaun Rooney should’ve been sent off for elbowing Stephen Welsh. That’s certainly more plausible than the prospect of our goal being ruled out.

McInnes can paint a picture of injustice if he wants. Celtic are in the final and deservedly so. This side showed guts and determination to break down an ultra-defensive St Johnstone setup.

All that happened yesterday is that we got our rewards for that persistence.

And the fans have been letting Derek know all about it too as they teased the former Dons boss about his complaints:

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