Kelechi Iheanacho’s winner against Dundee sparked debate after a coming together with Ryan Astley in the build-up. Some felt there was enough contact to question the goal, but referee Steven McLean allowed play to continue and VAR did not intervene.
The incident came at a key point in the match. Celtic were pushing for a breakthrough, and when the ball dropped in the box, Iheanacho reacted first. Astley tried to hold his ground, but the striker got across him and finished.
It was the type of moment that often gets slowed down and picked apart. From one angle, there looks to be contact. From another, it looks like normal play between two players competing for position inside the box.
Former referee Des Roache has now weighed in on the decision, offering a clear view on why the goal stood and why VAR had no reason to step in.
He said: (Hotline Live), “Right, so when you look at that still there, it doesn’t look great, but football’s a physical sport. You’re going to be pushing and jostling all the time. I’m not giving a foul there, and what was quite telling was that not one Dundee player even looked for it when the game was on. No, that’s not a foul. 100%, it’s not a foul.
“No, you’re not, but VAR is only there to look at clear and obvious errors, so what’s happened there is an opinion.
“If I was on VAR and the referee gave a foul, I could support it. I could say, well, he’s shoved him, he’s nudged him, okay. But it’s not. No, it’s just not. Absolutely not.
“And I think, as you said, Iheanacho looking and sort of waiting to see what’s going to happen, that’s a current symptom of where we are with VAR.”
Kelechi Iheanacho’s winner against Dundee sparked debate after a coming together with Ryan Astley in the build-up. Some felt there was enough contact to question the goal, but the referee allowed play to continue and VAR did not intervene.
The incident came at a key point in the match. Celtic were pushing for a breakthrough, and when the ball dropped in the box, Iheanacho reacted first. Astley tried to hold his ground, but the striker got across him and finished.
It was the type of moment that often gets slowed down and picked apart. From one angle, there looks to be contact. From another, it looks like normal play between two players competing for position inside the box.
Former referee Des Roache has now weighed in on the decision, offering a clear view on why the goal stood and why VAR had no reason to step in.
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