SPFL week 14 saw Celtic travel to Motherwell, and the limitations of the Scottish version of VAR writ large, whilst The Rangers took on Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox.
As ever, the Yorkshire Whistler is here to adjudicate on the big calls.
The impact of that call being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
09/11/22 Motherwell vs Celtic
Incident 1
Referee | Willie Collum |
Game Minute | 59th |
Incident | Jota scores for Celtic |
Outcome | Offside against Jota and free kick to Motherwell |
Evidence | (2) SPFL – YouTube
At 2:07 |
Incident 2
Referee | Willie Collum |
Game Minute | 81st |
Incident | Starfelt is fouled by Morris |
Outcome | Foul to Celtic and YC to Morris |
Evidence | BBC iPlayer – Sportscene – Premiership Highlights 2022/23: 09/11/2022
At 7:40 |
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict | Starfelt fouled by Morris
Initial on field decision: Foul and free kick to Celtic. Morris cautioned for the tackle. Morris comes in from distance and catches Starfelt late. This is certainly a reckless tackle and the yellow card is fully justified. There is also the question of whether this was punishment enough and did the tackle warrant a red card for a tackle of excessive force/endangering player safety? On reflection I think the yellow card was the correct colour issued. Yes, the leg is extended and the studs are showing but Morris turns his leg at the last moment to avoid the studs planting in Starfelt’s leg and it is the momentum of the player’s left ankle that catches Starfelt’s trailing leg. I could have understood at full speed, if a red card had been brandished at the time by the referee, but on reviewing the video replay, do not believe the referee made a clear and obvious in only showing Morris the yellow card for this challenge. Verdict: Correct decision to caution the player |
Expected Points
Outcome |
No impact |
Incident 3
Referee | Willie Collum |
Game Minute | 84th |
Incident | Motherwell take a throw-in which hits Haksabanovic and Celtic score from the resulting turn over |
Outcome | Goal to Celtic |
Evidence | BBC iPlayer – Sportscene – Premiership Highlights 2022/23: 09/11/2022
At 7:58 |
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict | Motherwell throw in hits Haksabanovic before Celtic go on to score
Initial on-field decision: Goal awarded to Celtic Penney’s throw-in inadvertently hits the head of the Celtic player, which allows Celtic to launch a counterattack that they ultimately score from. Motherwell is asking if the throw-in should have been retaken for an infringement.
For me, the Motherwell player is at fault here, as he throws the ball at the Celtic player at close range, in an attempt to launch a quick attack. He misjudges the position of Haksabanovic who does not seem aware until the last moment that the throw-in is being taken quickly. He certainly makes no deliberate attempt to impede the throw-in, in an attempt to prevent Motherwell from attacking. Verdict: Correct decision to allow the goal to stand and not award a Motherwell free kick |
Expected Points
Outcome |
No impact |
09/11/22 The Rangers vs Heart of Midlothian
Incident 1
Referee | John Beaton |
Game Minute | 70th |
Incident | Ball hits Davies in the box |
Outcome | No decision |
Evidence | BBC iPlayer – Sportscene – Premiership Highlights 2022/23: 09/11/2022
At 22:34 |
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict | Ball hits Davies in the box
Initial on field decision: No foul committed Hearts swing a corner into The Ranger’s penalty area, the resulting knock-on hits Davies at close range and the Hearts players ask for the penalty for a handball offence. Relatively straightforward call here. No offence was committed. I believe it actually hits the face of the Rangers player here and the rams appear to be in a natural position specific to his movement. So, even if footage emerges that it might have hit his arm first, I would still class this as accidental handball, with no offence committed. Verdict: Correct decision to not award the penalty. |
Expected Points
Outcome |
No impact |
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
It seems controversy is dogging Celtic in particular in the early weeks of VAR. Just bad luck I am sure, and it will all have evened out over a season.
The import of the Jota disallowed goal is not so much the relatively trivial issue of whether one offside call was correct or not, it is in how the SFA dealt with Celtic’s subsequent query given the technology seems to have failed in this instance. That is covered fully in this article and is beyond the scope of the Yorkshire Whistler’s remit, he will no doubt be glad to know!
With the contentious use of protocols and procedures leading to Jota’s goal being ruled out, a change to the overall xPts picture for the season:
Based on the in-match game state when the decisions were made (or not made), The Rangers have 1.08 MORE points than expected due to the cumulative impact of Honest Mistakes and Celtic 3.07 LESS.
A swing of 4.15 xPts.
Celtic led by seven points after 14 matches.
Tam says
I know the whistler only usually looks at big decisions but I’d love to hear his thoughts on the MO’R fould inside the first 10 mins when he put Kyogo through, the goalie put it down and pick it up free kick and his inconsistent management of players being put off and allowed back on after treatment
Tam says
In the Ross County game
Charles says
As we have only lost one game deservedly by the way and dropped 3 points how could we have minus 3.07pts. That would mean we would accumulate more than maximum
celticbynumbers@btinternet.com says
The xPts are based on the game state at the time the incident happened not the actual end result – see the linked article for a fuller explanation
Gary McLaren waters says
I was brought up in the Celtic family knowing that we played against 12 men….. the only thing that’s changed is the addition of a 13th man. We overcame before and we will overcome again. HH.??????
celticbynumbers@btinternet.com says
Forgie me if i do the Ange cough at that suggestion
no more back of the bus and accepting things
Level playing field or we don’t cooperate
gerry says
The ross county game deserves a chapter all to itself!
Martin says
I’ll be very interested to see what incidents from that game the YH reviews.
My big ones would be:
O’Riley’s phantom foul
The keeper picking it up again
The penalty given
The penalty not given.
Although I suspect the penalty not given won’t be considered too controversial as my own view is “Bit soft, Ralston made the most of it. Probably should have been given, but not obviously wrong to wave it away due to relatively minor contact. “
Dresden says
Thanks Alan and the Yorkshire whistler for the article! Debate is great and feedback from an impartial professional tells it straight; we‘re being cheated by bias and/or incompetence!
Right now Mr Nicolson has a choice to clearly state, Celtic are no longer ‚back of the bus‘, but very soon, the most successful team in Scotland, without bias or EBT help!
George Elliott says
I AM surprised the Ross County keeper picking the ball up twice in the box x never got a mention
…?
celticbynumbers@btinternet.com says
I am constrained by what highlights are available. Plus i limit to big calls around goals and foul play ie is it a RC or not