Honest Mistakes: To February 2nd, 2025
Collum's crusaders take to the park again to officiate on behalf of Scotland's premier teams.
The matches covered here are for the dates 26th January to 2nd February.
The impact of incorrect big calls can be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
26/01/25 Dundee United vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee: Nick Walsh
Game Minute: 90th
Score At Time: 1-3
Incident: Holt and Diomande clash
Outcome: YC to Holt and RC to Diomande.
Evidence: Dundee United 1-3 Rangers | Dessers Hits Stunner At Tannadice | William Hill Premiership - YouTube
At 4:50
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on field decision: YC to Holt and RC for Diomande
A coming together between the two players sees them square up briefly. A moment of grappling and as they break Diomande appears to swipe his right hand quite petulantly and it brushes the face of Holt.
Hardly any contact or real intent - but as we know in the modern game, if you raise your hands and catch an opponent’s face, a sending off for violent conduct is the expected outcome.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
02/02/25 Motherwell vs Celtic
Incident 1
Referee: Calum Scott
Game Minute: 23rd
Score At Time: 0-1
Incident: Armstrong scores for Motherwell
Outcome: Goal to Motherwell following VAR review.
Evidence: Motherwell 1-3 Celtic | Jota Scores On Celtic Return! | William Hill Premiership
At 1:04
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on field decision: Goal to Motherwell after VAR review
As a cross is swung into, Armstrong jumps with the Celtic defender and then from the rebound he scores. The Celtic man appeals for a foul in the initial build up, but for me there is no unfair contact from Armstrong. His marker is caught slightly under the flight of the ball and tries to jump up and forward at the same time. Armstrong is entitled to compete/jump and there is no evidence of a push here.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 2
Referee: Calum Scott
Game Minute: 50th
Score At Time: 1-2
Incident: Sparrow scores and own goal for Celtic
Outcome: Offside and goal disallowed following VAR review.
Evidence: Provided
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Goal to Celtic, disallowed for offside by VAR
Before the own goal is scored by Sparrow, there is an incredibly tight offside call on the Celtic forward as he receives the ball before his cross is diverted into the goal.
From the one angle presented it’s a matter of millimetres in it. With a different angle I could well be persuaded to reconsider, but the there is nothing conclusive from the footage provided to say the offside call is the wrong one, so I’ll support it.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
02/02/25 The Rangers vs Ross County
Incident 1
Referee: Steven McLean
Game Minute: 77th
Score At Time: 3-0
Incident: Dessers goes down in the box
Outcome: Penalty to TRFC
Evidence: Rangers 4-0 Ross County | Hagi Double Continues Rangers' Run | William Hill Premiership
At 3:10
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on field decision: Penalty to Rangers
As a cross is delivered, Dessers gets to the ball before his Ross County marker. The Rangers man goes to hit the ball with his left foot but it misses and then bounces off his standing foot. However the defender fully commits to the challenge. He doesn’t get near the ball and as both players fall backwards, his left leg swipes Dessers to the ground, in what looks like a clumsy scissors like motion.
This is a reckless challenge and is a clear foul, when reviewed under replay.
Verdict : CORRECT decision .
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
Once again the main men in the middle have had a good week.
This leaves the overall position thus:
Celtic have 0.87 MORE expected points, and The Rangers also have 0.35 MORE due to the impact of Honest Mistakes. So, Celtic’s expected advantage is 0.52 xPts.
At this juncture, Celtic led by 10 points after 24 games with one game in hand.