Yahoo News Honest Celtic punter admits Hearts were hard done by as Hotline takes SFA to task over 4 VAR calls
The SFA rolled out their new 40-minute VAR review show this week.
But they might have to double the running time of next month’s instalment going by the number of talking points thrown up over the weekend. The main controversies came at Parkhead and Paisley. At Celtic Park, Hearts had a spot-kick award overturned by the telly officials before Brendan Rodgers’ champions saw a penalty of their own sanctioned. And Ian McDonald, Innerleithen, said: “SFA must stand for Scottish Fraud Association. Hearts had a stonewall penalty. Celtic’s penalty was a also stonewall penalty. The only difference, Celtic go theirs and we didn’t. Why do we bother?”
Chris Lowe, Yoker, returned from his summer hols to say: “Surprise, surprise. Brendan Rodgers says both VAR calls were correct. The same Rodgers who dog whistled to the lowest elements of the Celtic support by naming an official in this very fixture last season when they lost. As predictable as night follows day, everything is rosey and correct as the decisions went Celtic's way.”
Celtic ended up winning 2-0 but William Hutchison, Aberdeen, said: “Celtic should have put Hearts to bed in the first half but to me, if you gave one penalty to us then Hearts’ one should have stood too. No wonder the other teams think Old Firm always get favours.”
Frank Johnson emailed in: “Agree with Steven Naismith that if the Hearts pen was not given, then neither should the Celtic spot kick. This is the problem with this VAR system - no consistency. Pity that the two incidents are the main talking point of a decent match.”
At St Mirren, the Buddies were lucky not to have Mikael Mandron and Shaun Rooney set off after flashpoints incidents during their draw with Kilmarnock. Rab Hunter, Dumfries, said: “Even though we have VAR, I hope retrospective action remains available and is utilised, otherwise we are simply condoning acts of thuggery such as the actions of Shaun Rooney, which would be an extremely sad indictment of our game!”
Tom Paterson, Falkirk, added: “VAR Andrew Dallas should be demoted from Category 1 and asked for an explanation as to why he did not get involved when Rooney deliberately kicked Kyle Vassell TWICE. Both kicks were excessive force and reckless and also quite obviously deliberate. Dallas stuck his nose in numerous times during the game but failed to intervene in the worst foul play incident of the whole game. Incompetent in the extreme.”
Carl McCoy, Paisley, said: “With St Johnstone, Hearts and Kilmarnock languishing at the bottom of the table, is it now maybe time to accept a long hidden truth. Despite being told time after time that they ‘know the game’ and all the other cliches, Messrs Levein, Naismith and McInnes are not very good.”
Meanwhile, John Bennett has stood down as Rangers chairman on health grounds. Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, said: “Although I wanted John Bennett out as chairman of Rangers, I do sincerely wish him the very best a speedy recovery and good health for the future.”
Sunday's win at Tannadice offered some much-need cheer for the suffering Ibrox support. But Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “Cyriel Dressers brings nothing to this team. Rangers team made Dundee United look good. Worrying times ahead.”
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