Honest Mistakes - The Season So Far
The games kept coming in December, and so we have around 3 rounds worth of decisions to catch up on.
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler for keeping the uncommon common sense coming!
These cover the games from match days 17 to 20 (12th to the 26th December 2021).
BACKGROUND - I outlined a framework to assess the impact of Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
12/12/21 Celtic vs Motherwell
Referee Alan Muir Game Minute 45th
Incident Slattery foul on Johnston Outcome Foul to Celtic Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 12/12/2021
At 28:30
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Johnston goes to head the ball from an initial Motherwell clearance Slattery is adjudged to have fouled Johnston.
Having watched this incident in real time, my initial reaction was foul against Slattery. Upon watching the incident at least 10 times, I began to re-think my assessment at least twice more, so clearly not a clear-cut decision.
The question for me to help decide if this is a foul or not, is “does Slattery impede at any time Johnston, as he attempts to head the ball?”. If we first look at Johnston’s movement, he has eyes on the ball at all times, times his jump and heads the ball. Slattery at the same time during the incident, stays rooted to the ground, watching the ball and waiting for it to come down. Slattery will argue that he has not made any attempt to challenge Johnston and has simply stood his ground. To be fair, if the referee decided not to award a foul for this challenge, I would not be shouting ‘clear and obvious error’.
However, the 2 things that would support the reason for awarding the foul are that a. Slattery has a quick glance at Johnston’s position before he decides to stand his ground which will affect Johnston’s movement and b. the outstretched right arm that makes contact with Johnston as he is in mid air after heading the ball.
In summary, what most neutrals might describe as a ‘soft foul’ would still be considered a foul due to the impediment that occurred after the ball is headed which results in Johnston’s uncomfortable and off balance landing.
Verdict: Correct Decision.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
12/12/21 Hearts vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee Nick Walsh Game Minute 9th
Incident Morelos scores for TRFC Outcome Goal to TRFC Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 12/12/2021
At 03:38
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict From a pass into the box Morelos drills ball home from 8 yards out. There is a question mark over the position of Ryan Kent at the ball is struck. Is he offside and does he interfere with the goalkeepers attempt to save the initial shot?
After several slow-motion replays, I am comfortable with the initial on field decision to award the goal. Kent appears to be level with both the goalkeeper and also the defender marking him at the moment Morelos makes contact with the ball. More importantly he is not in the line of sight of the goalkeeper when the shot is struck, and so even if he were to be found offside by what could be just mere millimetres, he is still not interfering with play.
Verdict: Correct decision.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 2
Referee Nick Walsh Game Minute
Incident Ginnelly is cautioned for dissent Outcome YC to Ginnelly of Hearts Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 12/12/2021
At 05:31
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Ginnelly protests to the referee for a corner decision and receives a yellow card for his troubles.
Unfortunately for Ginnelly he gets too ‘up & close and personal’ with the referee when appealing for the decision. He literally gets himself directly in the referee’s face and there appears to be actual, if minimal body contact. As soon as any player gets this close to a referee and invades the personal space, a yellow card for dissent by word/action is the expected outcome.
Verdict: Correct decision
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 3
Referee Nick Walsh Game Minute
Incident Mackay-Steven cross is handled by Goldon Outcome No decision Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 12/12/2021 and https://twitter.com/Zeshankenzo/status/1470332455613779969?s=20
At 10:53
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict This non- decision brings us into the not so crystal-clear area of what constitutes handball or not. For clarity IFAB current law guidance states:
It is an offence if:
• a player deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand towards the ball.
• Touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of hand/arm is not a consequence or justifiable by the players body movement for that specific situation.
So now the definition is clear (??) lets apply that to the Goldson incident:
He’s a defender who goes to close down the Mackay-Stevens cutback.
Does the ball hit his arm? Yes it does.
Is this done deliberately? No it is not.
So, Is it now a consequence of making his body unnaturally bigger whilst not being specific to his situation?
As a referee, the thought process I apply in these incidents (accidental handballs happen regularly to be fair) is based on two key pieces of information
a. Just how far is the arm extended and does it feel a natural position for that situation?
b. The distance involved/thinking time for the defender to move his arm out?
For me, Goldson’s arm is slightly extended, but not excessively so, at a 40/45 degree angle which looks natural to the situation. And he is less than 2/3 yards away when the ball is struck i.e he has no time to think or do anything about the incoming shot.
Therefore, I would not have awarded a handball/penalty decision for this incident.
Verdict: Correct decision.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 4
Referee Nick Walsh Game Minute
Incident Ginnelly booked after player altercation Outcome YC to Ginnelly of Hearts and RC for 2nd caution Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 12/12/2021
At 12:19
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict After a perceived late challenge on Barisic by Devlin, Ginnelly becomes involved in an altercation with Barisic with results in both players receiving a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. In Ginnelly’s instance this is his 2nd yellow card and so he receives his marching orders.
Ginnelly shows naivety here. There is no reason for him to get involved when already on a yellow card. Devlin & Barisic appear to be leaving each other as Ginnelly arrives in front of Barisic. This provokes Barisic back up against Ginnelly, and after a verbal exchange between the two at close proximity, other players arrive on scene.
Ginnelly is not acting as a ‘peacemaker’ and his arrival has the opposite effect. For me both players are quite correctly shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour/adopting an aggressive attitude.
Verdict; Correct decision.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
15/12/21 Ross County vs Celtic
Incident 1
Referee Alan Muir Game Minute 69th
Incident Starfelt booked for dissent Outcome YC to Starfelt Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 15/12/2021
At 07:10
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Initial on field decision. Starfelt is cautioned for what appears to be unsporting behaviour (dissent by word/action).
A frustrated Starfelt is shown a yellow card whilst on floor remonstrating with the referee. The assumption I make here is the language/conduct uses towards the referee is deemed to be unacceptable and he is shown the yellow card. You will notice Joe Hart gives Starfelt a little nudge and request to keep his mouth shut before he makes things any worse for himself and his team mates.
You can piece the situation together as seconds before, the Ross County appears to accidentally catch Starfelt in the face and the referee’s opinion of the challenge is clearly different to the Celtic player.
Whilst I have a degree of sympathy with Starfelt, I can’t verify what he said that made the referee feel a yellow card was the correct sanction, but will assume Starfelt wasn’t wishing the referee a merry Christmas.
Verdict: Correct decision on the basis we don’t know what Starfelt did/said but clearly the referee didn’t care for it.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 2
Referee Alan Muir Game Minute 79th
Incident Starfelt booked for foul on Charles-Cook Outcome YC and RC for Starfelt Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 15/12/2021
At 07:40
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Initial on field decision: Foul, 2nd yellow card and therefore a sending off.
Starfelt is involved in a tussle to win the ball out wide with the Ross County attacker. Although initially appearing to look like winning this encounter, Starfelt suddenly finds himself slightly behind the opponent. In continuing to challenge he appears to momentarily grab the players arm and they both, off balance start to fall. At this moment Starfelt’s body also catches the Ross County player legs and they both end up in a heap on the fall.
My initial reaction was foul against Starfelt and even though I wouldn’t class this as a reckless challenge, the yellow card is still correct under law 12:
a caution is expected under unsporting behaviour when a player commits any other offence which interferes with or stops a promising attack.
Given this challenge occurs just outside Celtic’s own 18-yard box, this is classed as a promising attack.
Verdict: Correct decision for the foul and yellow card (which then unfortunately results on the sending off)
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 3
Referee Alan Muir Game Minute 90th
Incident Charles-Cook blocks shot in the box Outcome No decision Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 15/12/2021
At 09:35
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Initial on field decision: No foul given
Had to watch this one several times at full speed before arriving at the conclusion that the no foul was probably the correct call.
Charles -Cook gives the referee something to think about as he spins round and uses a combination of his back and his elbow to block the shot.
If the ball had struck the Ross County player on his arm or wrist then a penalty decision would have been much more likely.
However, as the ball strikes Charles Cook very central I.e torso/back area, it has not actually hit him when he has made his body unnaturally bigger, as part of his attempt to block the ball.
Verdict : Correct decision.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
18/12/21 The Rangers vs Dundee United
Referee Alan Muir Game Minute 70th
Incident McMann penalised for hand ball in the box Outcome Penalty to TRFC Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - Sportscene Saturday 2021/22: 18/12/2021
At 07:08
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Initial on field decision: Handball and penalty awarded to Rangers.
For me this is a straight forward call and is clearly a handball offence. The Dundee Utd man goes to intercept a cross into the box and attempts to head the ball to safety. However, he mis reads the cross and the ball totally misses his head and hits his extended right forearm.
Under the current IFAB guidelines it would be adjudged to be a handball as his arm is well extended and trailing behind the rest of his body and this does make his body shape unnaturally bigger.
Verdict: Correct decision
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
26/12/21 St Johnstone vs Celtic
Referee Bobby Madden Game Minute 22nd
Incident Abada scores for Celtic Outcome Goal to Celtic Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 26/12/2021
At 02:28
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Initial on field decision: Goal awarded to Celtic
Abada sees his initial effort saved and then heads the rebound over the line and into the back of the net.
Two possible points of contention here. Firstly, a possible offside call on the initial Abada effort and secondly is there a foul committed by Abada as he goes to head the initial parry made by St Johnstone’s goalkeeper?
Regards the first consideration, an incredibly tight call to the human eye and at full speed, Abada appears to be level with the defender at point of contact from the pass. Even with video replay, I’d still say level and so onside.
Looking at the follow up to the rebound, Abada and both St Johnstone defenders are all looking to get prime position to head the ball. All three players have eyes only for ball and there is a small amount of contact between the players as they challenge. I am satisfied that no foul is committed by Abada.
Verdict; Correct decision to award the goal
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
26/12/21 The Rangers vs St Mirren
Referee Steven McLean Game Minute
Incident Ball hits Barisic on hand in box Outcome No decision Evidence BBC iPlayer - Sportscene - 2021/22: 26/12/2021
At 21:25
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Initial on field decision: No foul given.
A deflected cross appears to hit Barisic on the hand. My initial thought on this one was no foul. This is accidental, there is no deliberate movement of hand to ball and, if anything, he appears to be pulling his hand away. Barisic is looking to keep his arm and not make his body shape unnaturally larger.
Verdict: Correct Decision, no foul committed.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
A “first” as all the referred Big Calls were supported by our virtual VAR! No apparent errors from the men in black. Well done and kudos due.
This takes us bang up to date for all the SPFL matches played affecting the top 2 places.
Expected Points Table
The Expected Points table is therefore as you were:
At the moment, based on xPts, Celtic have 1.94 less points than expected due to Honest Mistakes and The Rangers have 1.75 more points than expected.
That is a 3.69 xPts swing.
The current gap at the top of the table is 6 points.
My Half Term Report
I have been very careful not to comment personally on any of the decisions nor Yorkshire Whistler verdicts. And that will continue.
In terms of what I have learned so far:
54 incidents have been referred so far and 19 have been adjudged by an independent expert as incorrect (35%) – my opinion is that this is probably too high. In the English Premier League in 19/20 2400 incidents were reviewed and 109 overturned (5%). Now this probably includes a higher number of non-critical incidents but that is quite a disparity.
In terms of patterns, for Celtic, it looks like they benefit from a few and lose out on a few (3 benefitted versus 5 penalised)
The Rangers are rarely on the end of a bad call that has a major impact – only 1 and that was relatively immaterial to the match outcome. They have benefitted from 4.
These are very small samples.
Big calls will remain material to the outcome of the league as long as it remains tight at the top.
With thanks again to the Yorkshire Whistler, we will continue to review theses for the rest of the season.