Des Roache has delivered his big verdict on three Celtic VAR calls in the Parkhead win over Motherwell at the weekend.
The former SFA referee was asked his opinion on the VAR decision to award Celtic a penalty and red card Emmanuel Longelo.
Roache was also asked about a possible red card for Daizen Maeda and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for which he branded the Celtic winger’s challenge ‘just stupid’.
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Des Roache slams John Beaton over Celtic penalty and Motherwell red card
John Beaton required the assistance of VAR to award Celtic the penalty after Emmanuel Longelo’s DOGSO challenge on Maeda.
And Roache told Hotline Live ‘there was no need’ for Beaton to get assistance from the video referee, “I think that VAR worked there. That’s why it’s there, to get the big calls correct.
“But what I was more concerned with is why John Beaton didn’t call it himself, because he’s, what, 10, 12 yards away from it?
“Clearly unobstructed view. There’s no need for him to be looking for the ball in the air, because the ball’s just going to land. And Longello is all over Maeda.
“There’s no hesitation in what’s the correct outcome, and it’s a penalty and a red card.”
Roache hammers ‘stupid’ Maeda challenge and ‘naughty’ Oxlade-Chamberlain
The next two big calls were centred around Celtic midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s potential red card and Maeda’s apparent elbow on a Motherwell player.
On the Oxlade-Chamberlain challenge on Elijah Just, Roache’s verdict was very level-headed, “The Oxlade-Chamberlain one, I thought that was naughty. I thought he was… I wouldn’t like to think that he was going to hurt anyone.
“I don’t think he’s going to hurt anyone. But if a red card was given there, I don’t think you’ll get any complaints on it. I don’t think.”
And on claims that Daizen Maeda should have been red carded for an elbow, the former SFA referee said, “I wouldn’t be looking for a red card for it. I think he’s very lucky not to escape with a minimum yellow card. I think it was maybe an outstretched arm.
“Then why is he getting involved with [Ibrahim] Said when he’s on the ground and pushing him? It’s not like Maeda, to be honest. I’ve not really seen that side of his game before.
“I think a yellow card for unsporting behaviour and just being stupid, really. I don’t see it being violent. I don’t see it being serious foul play.”
With Celtic closing the gap to Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to just two points, the heat is on as the top-six split nears.
With three games left until the big split, Celtic, Rangers and Hearts cannot afford to drop any points in the final eight games of the season.
Who will blink first? It doesn’t seem like it will be Celtic.
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