BOBBY Madden has defended the refereeing decision of Steven McLean during Celtic’s match at Ibrox.
The experienced whistleblower allowed the game to continue in spite of the Celtic camp‘s calls for a penalty when the ball appeared to flick off Connor Goldson‘s hand.
Madden explained that VAR would have reviewed the incident thoroughly, taking into account IFAB‘s rules on handball which state that it is an offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm.
He also noted that, with only nine fouls in the first half, the game was played in a relatively friendly atmosphere.
He said: [Sportsound]
“I think from a refereeing perspective he will be very happy. I think everyone predicted this could be played like a friendly and I think when you see in the first half of an Old Firm there is only nine fouls, that tells its own story.
“There have been two big decisions. One, an offside call correctly allowed to continue by the main stand assistant. Then there was the potential penalty for handball by Goldson.
“In that one, people will potentially say the arm is away from the body. But any supporting arm on the ground or the arm going to support the player on the ground is not considered deliberate handball so it is not a handball offence. VAR would have checked that and with that criteria, would have advised the referee it was the correct decision.”
Clearly, McLean‘s decision for the penalty was the correct one. Although, he was inconsistent with his decision-making, in regards to bookings. However, this can’t be used as an excuse for the Hoops, who just weren’t at the races today.
It was a needlessly rotated team, and Ange postecoglou will have learned his lesson.
Experience doesn’t mean good.
Of course he agreed, he’s a season ticket holder at the bigot dome
Let us be brutally honest, “Postecoglou was pish” in his team selection today! If I was a Celtic director, I would be questioning his judgement. What he did today with his starting line-up was show his inexperience in managing at big club.
All Ange did today was give theRangers hope that they are not that far away and also put doubt into our Celtic squad. Why? The first old firm derby next season is now up for grabs due now to the mentally of the players, where if we had at least gotten a draw their would have been little hope from theRangers point of view and still massive confidence in the Celtic camp. Ange has changed the narrative and also given the rangers supporting journalists fuel for their unrealistic bile and also added doubt to our players after todays defeat. We hadn’t played that well in the last few derbies but still managed a result but instead of trying to alter that he gave them an opportunity to get one over us. “Postecoglou was pish”!
Jock Stein said “play your best players in their best position” he also said “the jersey doesn’t shrink to fit the player” as is in the Celtic park tunnel. He also said that when asked if he was worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Stein and O’Neil he said “no mate”. Well never a truer statement has been said!
Playing Bernabei instead of Taylor, when we were already missing 2 of our starting back 4!
Not playing Kyogo!
Kobayashi is also not up to the job. I think Ange knows this as he said during the week that he wants another centre half, I agree. We need another player the quality of CCV to play on the left side especially the Champions league. Starfelt played really well today it has to be said, just others let him down but some should not have been put in that position by the manager in the first place!
Hatate hasn’t been at the races since his injury, why play him straight off, why not bring him up to speed from the bench while Mooy has been playing well! I have never seen Hatate give the ball away as many times this whole season as he did today.
Abada just looks like a player who wants away and he plays him from the start when we have players playing better at this time and also who want to be here unlike Abada. I would sell him this summer, his performances in the Champions league weren’t great and he was awful today.
It was blatantly obvious at half time that 4 subs should have been made at half time, Bernabei for Taylor, Hatate for Mooy, Adada for Maeda or Saed and Oh for Kyogo. Ange did nothing, then changed the midfield that hadn’t been at the races all day after we wen’t 3-0 down when the game was over.
These decisions don’t install me with confidence in Ange, and I only played for EasterCraigs which were a juvenile team (under 18 pro) but I never played under a manager who intentionally didn’t play his strongest team. Why? Because the players would then have questioned whether the manager was up to the job!
Well played by Ange.. He put in players that had to step up no pressure part the game as champions . They didn’t. Now he gets rid?
Do the board back him to clean out the dross
Well said John
We have been off it for weeks now, Sevco are not a good team yet today showed we are nowhere near as good as some of our fans believe.
Instead of blaming media, refs and anyone else its time to focus on our own shortcomings. Our European campaign was an embarrassment again yet some chose to celebrate just because we weren’t as bad as THEM.
We Never Stop?
Absolute bollocks
Strange there’s no criticism of Jota and McGregor who were both terrible today. The whole team were poor as if they were already on holiday, no passion or fight.Don’t put the blame on those who don’t start often like Oh, blame the regulars who let us down.