Michael Stewart tells Celtic whether the decision to award the Hibs penalty was ‘horrendous’ or not

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The vast majority of Celtic fans believe that Hibs being awarded a penalty for a Liam Scales handball was a ridiculous decision.

Scales attempted to play the ball and it appeared as if it deflected off his head, onto his shoulder and then to the Celtic defender’s arm.

VAR decided that referee Nick Walsh needed an on-screen review and the SFA official awarded the penalty against the Celtic defender.

The ruling baffled Celtic supporters but, for Michael Stewart, the Premier Sports pundit has a different view on the spot kick award.

• READ MORE: Michael Stewart tells Colby Donovan ‘what saved him’ from a Celtic red card vs Hibernian

Michael Stewart can ‘understand’ why Hibs penalty vs Celtic was given

Liam Scales admitted that as soon as the handball was flagged, he knew a penalty would be awarded.

And Stewart says the Celtic defender was ‘unfortunate’ but can see why the penalty was awarded.

Stewart told The Scottish Football Social Club, “I mean, look, you know my thoughts on the handball law.

“I think he’s unfortunate, but I can totally see why the officials have given it.

“Do you know what I mean in terms of, I think it’s still, yes it’s unfortunate, but I don’t think it’s a horrendous decision for the officials.

“Totally understand why they’ve given it. I think, personally, it’s still a little bit unfortunate.”

What people need to realise about what Liam Scales actually said about Hibs’ penalty award vs Celtic

Scales was quite candid when he was asked about the penalty award immediately post-match at Easter Road.

Scales said, “Yeah, I’m not going to complain. I think my hand’s probably up.

“It just comes through a lot of bodies, and I just wasn’t anticipating it coming to me, you know?

“I’d have to watch it back, but at the time, I thought that it was going to go to VAR, and would probably be a penalty.

“Yeah, 100% [you don’t know if it’s going to go for or against you], but for me, I thought it was going to go to VAR and be a penalty.

“So, no complaints.”

Some people are interpreting this comment as an admission of guilt, and that the award was correct. But what Scales said was is that he’d need to watch it back again.

We are pretty sure that when he does, the Celtic defender will go from having no complaints to having one big question to ask.