CELTIC and VAR don’t seem to be compatible. The technology heavily punished the bhoys before the World Cup; when anything touched a Celtic player’s hand, it felt like it was deemed a penalty.
Since the return, the handball rule appears to have been altered, and other sides who are committing the same infringements Celtic were punished for are NOT being punished.
There was more ambiguity on Wednesday night when the referee was ordered to look at the monitor after VAR deliberation from Clydesdale House couldn’t come to a definitive decision.
It centred around Liel Abada’s goal; when the pass was first made, Liel was offside. The Livi defender then puts his head to the ball and plays it behind him, where the Israeli picked up the ball and hit the back of the net.
Referee Euan Anderson was asked to decide whether the Livi defender’s intervention played Liel onside or not. He decided it didn’t, and the goal was eventually ruled out.
However, IFAB guidelines on the offside rule seem to suggest the goal should have stood. [Refereeing World]
Law 11 states: “A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by: gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has: rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar, match official or an opponent.
“A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent.”
Have a look for yourself, but the header from the Livingston defender looks like a deliberate play.
I don't think I even know the offside rules these days…I don't think the refs do either 😂 pic.twitter.com/EpGF68OrtL
— Fitzy (@Fitzy__07) December 21, 2022
Celtic won the game 2-1 in the end and controlled the game on the whole.
The bhoys welcome St Johnstone to Celtic Park on Christmas eve before everyone gets home for Santa coming. After that, Easter Road awaits Ange Postecoglou’s men for the final game of 2022.
