Jay Bothroyd is convinced Joe Newell handled the ball in the build-up to his Hibs goal against Celtic and believes the threshold for such calls may have shifted.
The ball seemed to strike the midfielder’s arm before he finished confidently to bring the ten-man hosts level at Easter Road, with Celtic eventually going on to secure a winner through Kelechi Iheanacho.
The visitors felt the goal should have been ruled out from the outset, despite a lengthy VAR review that ultimately allowed it to stand.
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, former referee Dermot Gallagher took a different view on the incident.
“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.”