You haven’t been able to ignore the analysis of the penalty controversy at Celtic Park yesterday if you’ve been keeping tabs on the post-match reaction.
Everywhere you go you’re having to listen to the theory that Celtic got away with one. That Raith should’ve had a stonewall penalty kick and that we can count ourselves lucky they didn’t.
Indeed, the first-half flashpoint is being discussed everywhere you look. Sportscene were quick to mention it in their analysis of the game last night.
The Daily Record and the Scottish Sun also ran pieces on Premier Sports pundits Chris Sutton and Paul Hartley both claiming Celtic were fortunate.
However, as is the norm, a pro-Celtic decision continues to be analysed to death whilst a big verdict that goes against us goes unnoticed. Midway through the first-half, Giorgos Giakoumakis was played in for a one-on-one with a teammate running alongside him.
It looked certain to be a second goal for Celtic, and a finish that would’ve surely ended the game as a contest before the half-time break.
The Giorgos Giakoumakis offside call nobody wants to talk about
It was just as good an opportunity as Raith would’ve had with the penalty kick. Yet, for some reason, nobody wants to talk about it. Nobody wants to bring it up and analyse that even for a moment. You have to wonder why given the spotlight that’s been thrown on to a penalty decision that likely would’ve even have changed who went through in the first place.
Celtic should’ve had the game dead and buried at the break. It wasn’t due to one decision that we failed to do so. It was a sluggish performance and Ange Postecoglou will be the first to admit that. But let’s not pretend Celtic got all of the decisions on the day.
It creates a dangerously false narrative. It gives a certain element of the football support in Scotland this idea that we get everything going. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Celtic had a big game-changing decision go against them yesterday, but only those who watched the full 90 minutes will now be aware of it. Unlike the Raith penalty controversy.
Why? Because it sets up a more fun narrative for the neutral? After all, it’s a lot easier to act as if the underdog has been done out of a result than it is just admitting the cold hard facts. But as Celtic supporters, we’re hardly going to let things slip under the radar.
Should Celtic have conceded a penalty yesterday? It’s debatable for a start. To me it looked as if the ball struck the chest of Cameron Carter-Vickers more than anything. I don’t understand the widespread assumption that it was some sort of stonewaller.
But what can’t be denied is that Celtic should’ve had a perfectly legitimate opportunity when Giakoumakis stormed through on goal. We didn’t get it and we move on. It would just be nice if the media would put the same emphasis on it though.
In other news, Liam Scales opens up on his “special” Celtic Park moment yesterday
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