Out of all the three big VAR decisions in Celtic’s win over Rangers, the Auston Trusty one was the least contentious of them all.
We told how BBC Sportscene ignored Daizen Maeda’s offside Celtic goal to discuss the handball, when VAR clearly showed why the penalty should not have been given against Trusty.
And here, former SFA referees Steve Conroy and Des Roache praise the officials for getting the VAR call correct, although Conroy does go in two-footed on Rangers striker Yousaf Chermiti for trying to buy the penalty.
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Was the decision to rule Daizen Maeda’s goal vs Rangers really so clear cut?
Des Roache tells VAR officials they got all the big Rangers vs Celtic calls ‘correct’
First up is Roache who decided to focus on the VAR officials as he praised them for getting the handball decision spot on.
Roache told The Ref’s View “Yes, on first viewing, everybody thinks, ‘Okay, it’s a hand ball in the penalty area’, but when you look at it, that’s why VAR’s there.
“Is that not what we’ve always said? It’s there to get the big decisions right. And yes, it was correct. So, well done the guys. It was never a penalty kick.”
On the very first review of the footage, it was as clear as day why VAR should not have awarded the penalty against Celtic, so quite why Sportscene wanted to create debate doesn’t make sense.
Steve Conroy blasts Yousaf Chermiti for trying to buy Celtic penalty
While Conroy agreed with the VAR call, he decided to focus his ire on Rangers striker Yousaf Chermiti for his part in the handball.
Conroy replied, “Oh I agree and the whole blooter-ball concept is absolute nonsense. But as we all keep saying, you or me could do that. Just hump it and see what happens.
“Rather than actually try to do something constructive. Alright, he did that and it didn’t work out for him. But the whole base of that is how ludicrous we’ve got the handball situation being.
“We’re going to have to get pockets in the shorts now so you can keep your hands in there. It’s an absolute nonsense. Seriously is.”
After listening to Conroy and Roache, Celtic fans will question even more Sportscene’s decision to bypass the Maeda offside to discuss this non handball debate after the former SFA men categorically put it to bed.
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