Yahoo News James Penrice sees Celtic penalty call split the pundits as Hearts get VAR answer over Liam Scales 'handball' snub
The punishment of handball against James Penrice in Hearts' clash with Celtic has caused debate after the controversial call at Parkhead.
The Hearts star attempted to block Nicolas Kuhn's cross into the box before the ball appeared to make contact with his arm - but referee Colin Steven opted not to point to the spot following the initial contact. The man in the middle would be sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR - allowing Arne Engels to step up the penalty spot and open the scoring in Glasgow's east end.
Jambos' boss Steven Naismith was left fuming on the touchline, and BBC Sportsound pundit Michael Stewart confessed to having sympathy for the boss. He quickly insisted that it wasn't a penalty when asked if it was a spot-kick in studio: "It's not. No. The referee is not pointing to spot is he?"
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But Leanne Crichton argued Celtic's case responding: "It looked to me like he pulls his hands in as soon as it happens. That to me always looks a bit guilty to me.
Stewart responded: "I just thought it looked like his hand was up in a natural position. I tell you what, that is a tough one. That could be given. He is trying to say his hands are right tucked in to the referee - they are not. You are right he does pull his arm away after."
Crichton added: "He is going to the monitor and I think he has indicated that not. I think that will be given to be honest. It's a fair distance between him and the ball but it's not as if he has stopped a promising attack, there is a lot that is going to happen."
At the other end, Hearts thought they had a chance to open the scoring from the spot after whistler Steven pointed to the spot after a Lawrence Shankland header was blocked by the arm of Liam Scales in the box. However, the VAR room would intervene before the referee overturned his decision.
Sportsound's Liam McLeod explained: "The referee initially thought the defender's arm was outstretched and the ball had travelled far enough to deem it a handball. Once it was reviewed it was deemed the arm was in a normal position, it didn't travel far enough and it it hits the arm too high to be a handball. So that is why Colin Steven's initial decision to give Hearts a penalty was overturned."
Stewart added: "Obviously hearing Liam's explanations there is good to hear because it rings true with what we saw and what we thought, so it's good to see referees are recognising that. I think it was the correct call."
