Celtic’s 5-2 win over St Mirren on Saturday night was full of drama, but one moment in particular has sparked debate. With the score at 3-2 in the 86th minute, St Mirren’s Roland Idowu was brought down in the Celtic box by Hoops defender Alistair Johnston.
Despite a VAR review, referee Matthew MacDermid waved away the penalty claims, leaving some questioning the decision.
Des Roache: ‘A Clear Penalty, But Not a Red Card’
Former SFA referee Des Roache was quick to share his thoughts on the incident. He was adamant that it was a penalty but felt that it was not a red card offence. “Alistair Johnston has dived in, he has taken the boy right out. People at work, supporters, will say it’s a red card – I don’t think it’s a red card. It’s a penalty kick,” Roache explained: (The Ref’s View). While some may have expected a harsher punishment for Johnston, Roache highlighted that the challenge was clear enough to warrant a spot-kick, but not a sending off.
Roache added that Johnston has been fortunate in recent seasons, but avoided referring to any malicious intent in the challenge. His take was straightforward – a penalty was deserved, but not a red.
Steve Conroy: ‘Johnston Was Very Lucky’
Steve Conroy, another former referee, echoed Roache’s sentiment that the challenge should have resulted in a penalty. However, he was also critical of the failure to review the decision on the field. “I think it was well worthy of a penalty. I think it was high tariff yellow card or an orange card – but he was a bloody lucky boy,” Conroy remarked. He also pointed out that VAR should have intervened more decisively.
Conroy was surprised that the VAR team did not prompt a review from the on-field referee after taking a quick look at the incident. “All refs miss things, but I can’t believe that VAR after having a quick look didn’t think that was worthy of an on-field review.”
A Missed Opportunity for St Mirren?
With the scoreline so tight, St Mirren fans will feel hard done by. A penalty in the 86th minute could have changed the course of the game, with the chance to equalise against Celtic late in the game.
However, given the fact Celtic were denied a Daizen Maeda equaliser against Hibernian at Easter Road a week earlier, it’s not as if the Hoops haven’t had any VAR decisions wrongly go against them this season, which highlights an issue with the referees who use VAR rather than the technology itself.
For Celtic, it was a decision that went in their favour, but the way any decision that favours the Hoops is highlighted across the country for days on end shows that some people don’t like to see anything go their way, even if it’s the result of human error.
