Joe Newell has reflected on his goal for Hibs against Celtic.
There was a fair bit of surprise when, after a lengthy VAR check, Newell’s equaliser stood, despite replays showing the ball making contact with his arm.
The officials later communicated that there “wasn’t enough sufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision”, and Celtic went on to secure a 2-1 win.
But the on-field decision is certainly called into question by the reaction of Newell, who captained the Hibees on the day.
Do you agree with Mark Clattenburg on Hibs’ goal against Celtic?
Joe Newell on goal vs Celtic: ‘I don’t know the rules anymore’
Asked about the incident after the game, Newell gave his raw reaction, admitting: “I’ve not seen it back…
“I did honestly feel like it was kind of in between my hip and my arm.
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“Whether it touched it or not, I wasn’t sure – and you just know nowadays that it’s going to get checked, so it kind of kills the emotion behind it.
“And then obviously it did get checked and because it took so long, I was quite surprised when it did go in our way.
“But yeah, who knows the rules? I don’t even know anymore, so who knows?
“On a personal level, it was a great moment. It was my second start of the season and we’re in May already.
“I’ve had a tough time, but I love playing for this football club, so any chance I get, like I say, I love it. So it was obviously nice.”
Speaking exclusively to 67 Hail Hail, ex-elite referee Mark Clattenburg slammed the decision as ‘wrong’, and he wasn’t alone in that verdict.
Even Kris Boyd and the Sky Sports panel were baffled. The decision was the latest in a long list of VAR moments that have left more questions than answers in Scotland.
VAR in Scottish football: incompetent refs, bad technology or both?
Celtic’s experiences with VAR this season
By this point, there is no club that hasn’t been stung by a VAR error, but Celtic have had a fair few blows this season.
In their first 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road earlier in the season, the game was completely changed by a penalty given for an innocuous handball by Liam Scales… a controversial call to say the least.
On the European stage, Kelechi Iheanacho’s disallowed goal against Braga was easily one of the most baffling interventions in Europe this season.
But the fact that this one was in a decisive title six-pointer only amplifies Celtic’s lucklessness.
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