A topsy-turvy weekend saw new leaders as plucky newcomers The Rangers hit the top of the league.
This takes us up to date with all the SPFL Premiership matches.
The impact of big calls being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
17/02/24 Celtic vs Kilmarnock
Incident 1
Referee | John Beaton |
Game Minute | 37th |
Score At Time | 1-0 |
Incident | Welsh challenges for a cross in the box |
Outcome | No decision following VAR review |
Evidence | BBC iPlayer – Sportscene – Premiership Highlights 2023/24: 17/02/2024
At 21:22 |
Incident 2
Referee | John Beaton |
Game Minute | 90th |
Score At Time | 1-0 |
Incident | Watson scores for Kilmarnock |
Outcome | Goal to Kilmarnock following VAR review |
Evidence | BBC iPlayer – Sportscene – Premiership Highlights 2023/24: 17/02/2024
At 24:37 |
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict | Initial on field decision: Goal awarded to Kilmarnock after VAR review
Watson gets on the end of a cross delivered from the left-hand side and puts the ball into the back of the net. There is a question asked about a potential foul by Watson on the Celtic man marking him as the cross comes over. For me, it appears that the Celtic man loses his man and ends up under the ball and in front of Watson. Watson’s arms do appear to come out slightly, but I do not believe there is a clear push or any impact on the Celtic man, who appears to misjudge the flight of the ball and doesn’t make any attempt to jump or challenge for the ball. On balance, I’m satisfied no foul was committed here. |
Expected Points
Outcome |
No impact |
18/02/24 St Johnstone vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee | Matthew McDermid |
Game Minute | 79th |
Score At Time | 0-1 |
Incident | Sterling and Considine challenge for the ball in the box |
Outcome | No decision changed to penalty to TRFC on VAR review |
Evidence | St Johnstone 0-3 Rangers | 2 Tavernier Penalties Put Rangers Top Of The Table! | cinch Premiership (youtube.com)
At 2:10 |
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict | Initial on field decision: No initial decision, but penalty was awarded to Rangers after VAR review.
Sterling runs into the St Johnstone box after winning the ball back high up the pitch. The covering defender slides in around the same time as Sterling stretches for the ball and initially the referee does not have a clear enough view of the incident to be confident a foul has been committed. After watching the replays I feel VAR was correct to intervene and recommend an on-field review. It appears that Considine’s right foot does not make any contact with the ball but instead catches the left boot of Sterling who falls to the floor. On balance, I find the decision to award the penalty, the right one. |
Expected Points
Outcome |
No impact |
Incident 2
Referee | Matthew McDermid |
Game Minute | 90th |
Score At Time | 0-2 |
Incident | Lawrence shot hits a defender in the box |
Outcome | No decision changed to penalty to TRFC on VAR review |
Evidence | St Johnstone 0-3 Rangers | 2 Tavernier Penalties Put Rangers Top Of The Table! | cinch Premiership (youtube.com)
At 3:34 |
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict | No initial decision, but penalty awarded to Rangers after VAR review.
Lawrence hits a shot that hits a crowd of players. In particular there is a St Johnstone player who jumps and spins, so his back is facing the ball and the ball then strikes him. In real time it looks like the referee indicates no foul as the ball appears to have struck the player’s back. On review, you can see that the ball does strike the extended right arm of the St Johnstone player. Even though the St Johnstone player does know too much about where the ball is as his back is turned, I can see why this is deemed to be a handball offence. Only the defender will know why he decides to adopt the unconventional tackle style of spinning around in a star-like motion, rather than just face the ball front on. In doing so he, creates an unnaturally large body position, with arms extended that can’t be justified as normal movement/positioning relating to this particular incident. On this basis, the right decision is reached. |
Expected Points
Outcome |
No impact |
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
All calls are verified as correct this week. It should be noted that the SFA referees announced that an “Independent” review of VAR calls had shown only 13 of 785 VAR reviews resulted in incorrect decisions. A 98.3 percent success rate!
Huzzah! Here’s to marking your homework.
You may recall that in the first season of the Yorkshire Whistler, despite showing empathy with all the referees, he found 32 percent of the reviews resulted in a change to the original decision.
Credit where it is due. This season only eight out of 40 reviewed calls have been deemed incorrect – a 20 percent error rate. Improvement though.
In terms of the overall position:
The Rangers have 0.53 MORE points and Celtic 0.29 less than expected due to the impact of Honest Mistakes. The Rangers are benefiting by an estimated 0.82 xPts due to the impact of honest mistakes.
The Rangers lead by two points after 26 matches.
Jim says
The Yorkshire Whistler, the SW tackle/ incident in the drab weekend performance, was the correct decision by the Ref. The two penalties that Sevco got against St Johnstone, where stone wallers. A foul in the St Johnstone 18 Yard Box, & a deliberate hand ball in the same box, was the correct decision by the Ref. We move on. However, what is really a concern?’s Is Celtic’s report card this Season which reads pish. We have a squad of players playing on a pitch, with a body language stating that they would rather be else where. We have a Manager who insists in playing a slow style build up’s, & side to side dross, with no direct purpose towards goal, & has completely lost the dressing room so to speak, & making feeble excuses to the media pundits about negative results. Under Ange, our Motto was “We Never Stop” & Now under Brendan our Motto has changed to “We Never Started” The Board has to take resonsibilty for what’s on show, with the Recruitment Policies & Scouting Method, in the Transfer Market, which is a complete shambles. With no furore research as to who they are signing, & dealing in the Transfer Market by signing, other Clubs surplus to requirement/rejects/pish, & also by going by Agents misleading YouTube V/Logs that reaks of being nieve all over them. Think of these words? “The Overall Big Picture” springs to mind when recruiting new additions & furure research. Not the haphazard lucky dip approach, which will not lead to success @ all. But only failure, & a big disappointment outcome. After all we are a Big Club, & expectations are high, in a results driven industry. For the time being, we digress.