David Martindale’s shameless double-standard on Celtic’s penalty vs Kilmarnock

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Celtic’s penalty award against Kilmarnock is certainly annoying all the right people this week.

So far, former SFA referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy have lambasted the Celtic penalty with one of the pair taking a full 48 hours to get it out of his system.

Roache ridiculed one official over the Celtic penalty as he took aim at VAR operator Matthew McDermid over the spot kick award.

And now, it’s the turn of Livingston boss David Martindale who delivered a bizarre double-standard over the Celtic penalty.

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David Martindale disagrees with Celtic penalty but would still claim it

The Livingston gaffer was asked about Celtic’s penalty at Kilmarnock and Martindale’s thoughts will not fool Celtic fans.

Martindale told PLZ Soccer, “I thought it was one of those where you’re not quite sure what the ruling is now. But I’ll be really honest: I don’t think it’s a penalty.

“On my interpretation of the ruling, if the ball was going on target — which I think it was at that point — there’s an argument it becomes a penalty.

“I don’t think it should be a penalty, I don’t agree with it, but I can see why it was given. I remember on Monday morning, we were debating it at the club. I said, ‘I don’t think it’s a penalty. I don’t think it should be a penalty’.

“But based on the law, it probably could be given because the ball was heading towards goal.

“Sometimes you think you know the rules, and then you realise you don’t, because there’s such a big grey area. I’d be devastated if it happened against me, but I’d be claiming for it if it happened for me. Still, I don’t think those types of incidents should result in a penalty.”

David Martindale opens up on referee meeting with strange view on Celtic penalty

The Livingston boss then spoke about the meeting Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell referenced and said that he came ‘away thinking one thing’ until he watched games in the Premier League that left him feeling confused.

Martindale continued, “There’s a lot that gets covered in those meetings, and you come away thinking one thing — then you watch the English Premier League where something’s given, or not given, and your interpretation changes.

“Then you see a penalty in another country on TV and it’s different again. So with so much information and so many different interpretations across leagues, it’s difficult to follow consistently.

“My view is still: I don’t think it was a penalty, I don’t think it should be a penalty, but I understand why VAR gave it, because the ball was going towards goal.”

Martindale has just proved that whilst there is anger from some that Celtic’s penalty shouldn’t have been awarded, if managers from other clubs were offered it, they would take the spot kick award regardless of their beliefs.