Former Category 1 referee discusses if Hearts’ second goal vs Celtic should have been disallowed

Add as preferred source on Google

Celtic’s defeat to Hearts has hit the headlines in more ways than one this week.

First off, the criticism Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy has been receiving in the media is absolutely bizarre and, quite frankly, shames our game.

Secondly, the result means Celtic are three points behind at the top of the league with a game in hand, so it’s hardly time for Armageddon.

However, it seems that the result could have been so very different as the debate rages over whether or not Hearts’ second goal should have stood for an offside against Lawrence Shankland that missed in the lead up to the offending corner.

And here, former SFA referee Des Roache gives his verdict on the big Celtic Park call.

• READ MORE: The Scottish press’ weird Celtic slant in Robbie Keane’s pre-match Europa League press conference

Former SFA referee Des Roache says Hearts goal vs Celtic was onside, but with a caveat

Des Roache was asked his view on the build-up to the goal and he said that he couldn’t see a problem with it.

Roache told The Ref’s View, “I was looking at it earlier and when you see the you see the pass going through, you can use the 18 yard line as the as the barometer on it.

“I actually thought he was onside, when you see it.

“Willie [Collum] said he doesn’t want to be forensic. Now, I get that.

“But you need to be forensic when it’s crucial decisions. I’ve got to say I was okay with it.”

But Roache then qualifies this statement with further clarification.

Roache ‘can’t say for definite’ if Hearts goal vs Celtic should count

VAR is supposed to deliver evidence-based facts to clear up mistakes that lead to or create goals and Roache thinks that the benefit of the doubt was given to Hearts on this occasion in Celtic Park.

Roache continued, “I know I’ll get hung for saying I’m okay with it. We didn’t see lines. We didn’t see anything there to give us that conclusive evidence.

“So, at that moment in time, as you quite rightly said, it might have been off, but without having that evidence, I can’t say for definite it was off.

“So, you’ve got to give the benefit of the doubt to the attackers. That’s where I’m coming from.”

Whilst the result is done and Celtic deserved to lose against the capital club, if that goal was chalked off, then the game could have been so very different.

But for now, Celtic need to focus on Roma to keep their Europa League dream alive this season so the Hearts controversy needs to be placed to one side so that Nancy can record his first win as the Celtic boss.