The SFA's Key Match Incident (KMI) panel has delivered a verdict on some of the most recent refereeing decisions, including a potential red card for Celtic's Alistair Johnston and a missed penalty for Hearts. This comes as the Scottish Premiership season reaches its climax, following a week of controversial calls.
The panel's report covered incidents from last weekend's fixtures, with a notable focus on the drama at Fir Park on Wednesday night. Celtic had a penalty claim turned down in the first half when Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward clattered into Daizen Maeda, and Motherwell had their own penalty waved away when Callum Slattery went down in the box after tangling with Callum McGregor.
However, the most talked-about moment was the stoppage-time penalty awarded to Celtic after an alleged handball by Sam Nicholson. The SFA has publicly defended under-fire referee John Beaton, who changed his mind after being recommended to go to the monitor by VAR.
The panel has yet to review these incidents, butRefs chief Willie Collum will discuss them next week on the VAR Review Show on Sky Sports. After examining the flashpoints, the panel has said Hearts should have been awarded a penalty for Maswanhise's trip on Kyziridis. However, they upheld the decision not to penalize Emmanuel Longelo for a handball in the same game.
Perhaps surprisingly, the panel insists the decision to give Johnston a yellow card for his tackle on Rangers star Mikey Moore was unanimously supported (3:1). Most panel members deemed the on-field decision of no penalty incorrect, with two feeling VAR was correct to intervene. The majority of the panel also deemed the final decision outcome incorrect, suggesting the referee should have awarded a penalty after being sent to the monitor.
Celtic defender Johnston considered himself 'lucky' to stay on the pitch after the lunge on Moore, which he won but followed through and caught his opponent on the ankle. He emphasized the importance of being smart with tackles, stating that he caught Moore on the top of the foot and that it was what it was. He acknowledged that he was lucky to avoid a red card, especially in the current day and age of the game.
This incident raises questions about the balance between winning the ball and avoiding injury, and the panel's decision highlights the subjective nature of refereeing decisions. It also underscores the importance of VAR in providing a second pair of eyes to ensure fairness and accuracy in crucial moments.
