Honest Mistakes - Week Eight
The latest round of SPFL fixtures saw Celtic take on Kilmarnock whilst Steven Davis took Micky Beale’s Galactico's to high flying St Mirren.
The impact of big calls being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
SPFL Game Week Eight
07/10/23 Celtic vs Kilmarnock
Incident 1
Referee Matthew McDermid Game Minute 33rd Score At Time 1-0
Incident Palma scores for Celtic Outcome Goal to Celtic Evidence (4) Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock | Bhoys Bounce Back With A Strong Win! | cinch Premiership - YouTube
At 1:04
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Palma scores for Celtic
Initial on field decision: Goal awarded to Celtic after VAR check.
Celtic press and win the ball back high up the pitch. Palma hits a forward pass to Hatate who believes he is stood offside so doesn’t attempt to play the ball. However, the ball bounces straight back to Palma who then duly scores.
In real time I suspected that Hatate was marginally offside but the VAR used their technology and adjudged Hatate level with the second most rear Kilmarnock player at the time the pass was played. From the one freeze frame presented its an incredibly marginal call either way and I do not see enough to say with any confidence the onside decision made was incorrect.
Therefore, happy to accept the VAR decision.
VERDICT: CORRECT decision to award the goal
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 2
Referee Matthew McDermid Game Minute 59th Score At Time 2-0
Incident Hatate goes down in the box Outcome Penalty to Celtic overturned upon VAR review Evidence (4) Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock | Bhoys Bounce Back With A Strong Win! | cinch Premiership - YouTube
At 1:54
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Hatate goes down in box from Watson challenge
Initial on field decision: Penalty initially awarded by on field referee, but then overturned after VAR review
Hatate runs at the Kilmarnock player just inside the box, there is contact, and the Celtic forward goes to ground. In real time I felt this looked a soft decision and upon watching the replay, I initial thoughts were confirmed. Hatate uses his right leg to step into the stride pattern of the defender who doesn’t appear to make any attempt to make a tackle. Clearly not a foul and VAR arrived at the same conclusion.
VERDICT: CORRECT decision to overrule the penalty – no foul committed.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 3
Referee Matthew McDermid Game Minute 72nd Score At Time 2-0
Incident Watson scores for Kilmarnock Outcome Goal to Kilmarnock Evidence (4) Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock | Bhoys Bounce Back With A Strong Win! | cinch Premiership - YouTube
At 3:28
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Watson scores for Kilmarnock
Initial on field decision: Goal awarded to Kilmarnock
In the build up to this goal, you can see the Kilmarnock captain and a Celtic player competing for the same space as they hunt down the ball. Both players end up on the floor, but it is the Kilmarnock player who gets top his feet first and duly creates the assist for the goal.
I feel some credit should be shown the on-field referee here, for playing an excellent advantage. As it is the Celtic player who commits the initial foul as he tugs on the right shoulder of the away player and then they both momentarily end up on the floor. The referee recognises that the Kilmarnock player will regain his footing first and so allows play to continue.
VERDICT: CORRECT decision to award the goal.
NB I did notice this incident (Taylor goes down on the edge of the Kilmarnock box) right at the start of the clip, but it seems to happen right at the edge of the image and we don’t see the starting contact from either player.
Without additional footage to review showing the clip in its entirety, I would be speculating at best.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
08/10/23 St Mirren vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee Nick Walsh Game Minute 28th Score At Time 0-0
Incident Ball hits Strain in the box Outcome No decision; Penalty to TRFC and RC to Strain upon VAR review Evidence (4) St Mirren 0-3 Rangers | Tavernier Grabs Brace Over 10-Man St Mirren | cinch Premiership - YouTube
At 00:01
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Ball hits Strain in the box
Initial on field decision: Penalty awarded to Rangers and Strain sent off after VAR review.
Rangers player hits a ball across the face of goal and before his teammate can get on the end of the cross just yards out, the St Mirren attempts to block the ball and appears to hit his outstretched arm. This is the kind of incident that VAR can really aid the on-field referee, who in real time has virtually no chance of seeing the contact due to his and player’s positions.
For me, the St Mirren unnecessarily extends his left arm, and the ball then hits it. If he doesn’t make this motion, then the Rangers player at the far post has an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Under the laws of the game, the player is correctly sent off for a handball offence that denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
VERDICT: CORRECT decision to award the penalty and send off the St Mirren player.
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
Note that in the Celtic vs Kilmarnock game there was controversy regarding the Kilmarnock goal as Greg Taylor appears to go down on the edge of the Kilmarnock box as the move starts. The available footage did not allow the Yorkshire Whistler sufficient angle to assess that contact if any.
Oddly (not odd) neither the BBC nor Sky Sports highlights include this incident in their replay of the goal, preferring to start the footage as the ball reaches Vassell.
In terms of the overall position:
The Rangers have 0.16 less points than expected due to the impact of Honest Mistakes.
Celtic lead by seven points after eight matches.