There was clear disagreement on Ref Watch following the controversial moment at Easter Road, as Dermot Gallagher declined to criticise the VAR call and instead offered an explanation for why the Hibs equaliser was allowed to stand.
The incident centred on Joe Newell’s goal, which brought the ten-man hosts level against Celtic after the ball appeared to make contact with his arm before he finished. Despite strong protests from the visitors and a lengthy VAR check, the goal was given, with Celtic eventually going on to win through Kelechi Iheanacho.
For Jay Bothroyd, the decision was difficult to understand. He argued that similar situations had been judged differently earlier in the season and suggested the standard for handball calls may have shifted.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Bothroyd said: “In the Scottish Premiership, they have been very consistent with the handballs. But recently I feel as if decisions like this – that have been handballs – show the threshold has moved a bit. They don’t seem to be as strict.
“But I look at that and say it’s hit his arm high, then it has hit his wrist, the ball drops into his path really nicely and he’s scored from it. I don’t understand how they can give that. I don’t know what they’re looking at because it’s hit his hand on a few occasions and he’s scored from it.
“You can see it hits his wrist. He’s scored from it so it can’t be a goal. I’m sure about that, I’m sure it’s hit his wrist. When you’re on the pitch it’s all happening quickly. You might not see that, but we’re privy to this. I’m looking at that and can see it hit his wrist for. It shouldn’t be a goal.”
However, Gallagher took a different stance and resisted the calls to condemn the decision, pointing instead to the uncertainty around the incident and the perspective of players on the pitch.
“I actually don’t think that’s as conclusive as you think,”he said. “And the reason is if you look at Liam Scales – Celtic No. 5 – he’s got the best view of that and his first priority is to get back and he even considers trying to handle the ball.
“He thinks ‘shall I/shan’t I’ on the line because he’s still convinced. It’s a tough call and in cases like that are we 100 per cent sure? Watch Liam Scales, he’s got the best view, and he considers handling the ball and he lets it go.”
Gallagher’s reasoning has added another layer to the debate, suggesting that the lack of a clear and definitive angle may have been enough for officials to stick with the original call on the pitch, even as the controversy continues to rumble on.