Don’t say that we weren’t warned, because we were. SFA officials have been openly rubbing our faces in the events of today for the last few weeks.
This blog has been steadfast in saying that it supports VAR, but you’ll have noticed the changes in tone in the last couple of pieces on this subject. Ian Maxwell let us know that people were concerned that this would be a car-crash on arrival; as the first major game – no harm to Hibs-St Johnstone – was one involving us at Tynecastle it was not hard to conclude that certain folk realised what today would bring.
Sport, any sport, is only as strong as the rules which bind it and guarantee that everyone treats the contest in the same way. There are echoes here of the Great Sports Day Scandal of 1999, where my friend Kayleigh’s victorious opponent in one game ran with an egg in one hand and a spoon in the other. What matters is not the shameless willingness to bend the rules – which exists and always will – but that there are officials who will permit that cheating to take place.
This, after all, is what we have officials for. It is why sports are refereed in the first place. It is why they start out with an agreed set of rules and then appoint officials whose job it is to make sure that those rules are observed. Even when the umpires are honest, examples of unscrupulous practices abound in every competitive environment.
In football they come in various guises. Almost every major scandal into cheating in the sport has involved corrupt officials, and it has happened in almost every country which takes the game seriously. One country resists the idea that corruption might be commonplace; Scotland. We are the only football nation which never even discusses that it might be.
The events of a 5 minute spell in the second half – where Jenz was not sent off for conceding a penalty whilst being on a yellow and where Heart’s initially scored penalty was re-taken – do not impact or change whatsoever what happened in the first 45 when three tight crucial calls went against us.
I am not arguing with the first, although you could … I am not even arguing with the second although some people will. It could have gone either way and I would have wanted it had it fallen for us. I wonder if Carter Vickers wasn’t a fraction late to the ball.
But the decision we don’t get, the one at the end of the half, which was as obvious a penalty as you’ll ever see, is so blatant and clear to the cameras that not giving it is, to me, the equal of allowing a competitor to do the Egg and Spoon Race in exactly the manner earlier described and pretending everyone follows the same set of rules. When the officials so clearly favour one competitor over the other there is no point in pretending that something isn’t rotten to its core. This does not even pretend to be a double standard … this is officiating by an entirely different set of rules, depending on which team wants the call.
English football makes refs declare allegiances although the game down there is not nearly as febrile and tribalist as this, and the stakes on individual decisions are not usually remotely as high. The game down there nevertheless takes this stuff seriously. Even accounting for that due diligence they have still had their share of corruption allegations.
Many of these have been thoroughly investigated. Many have ended up with people being kicked out of the game forever. They, like other countries, take it seriously enough to investigate allegations and potential problems.
Those who sneer at those countries where bent refs have been identified and prosecuted do so out of ignorance; it’s not, as some would have you believe, that those countries have problems that we don’t … it’s that they will seriously investigate these matters and we point blank refuse to even acknowledge the possibility of them.
This whole mind-set has been summed up by one member of our mainstream media; Hugh Keevins. He has the disgrace of having once said that we do not dare investigate these matters because if we found clear evidence of cheating that the game would be “finished.” As if the cheating itself would not devalue it and discredit all those who won honours whilst it was going on.
That decision today, to deny Celtic a penalty, when the cameras all showed us the same thing, and the VAR cameras must have showed it even more clearly than that, is frankly scandalous. Ange, on the touchline, telegraphed his disgust. Even the most unflappable guy in the business knows that was indefensible. No wonder he would not wholeheartedly endorse VAR yesterday; perhaps that man has been here long enough to sense how that would go.
The credit the team deserves for overcoming those circumstances today is immense. I am thrilled for the players who got their goals as much as anything else; Forrest was unlucky not to start in midweek and showed that today. Giakoumakis proves that he’s Celtic’s best penalty box striker. Taylor scores the winner; how great is that, for Celtic’s most improved player?
And then there was Maeda; what have I been saying about him? He only needed to get his head up again and the goals were going to start coming. He has scored a massively important one for us today and even if it’s not a winner it’s going to be crucial.
That is a classic example of overcoming adversity. And we deserve huge credit for it.
But let’s not kid ourselves; if that was a showcase for VAR it was only to highlight how it might be used for the most corrupt ends. That late first half decision is a scandal, and it should be called a scandal and to call it that would be especially potent on an afternoon where we’ve won the match, and especially where we had to fight uphill for the points.
If there was no VAR, Walsh would still have blown for a foul at Ralston’s goal and ignored the handball.
VAR didn’t make us worse off but does highlight the Honest Mistakes more.
Think it will benefit us in the long run.
Since the refs now have access to as many replays from as many angles as the rest of us there us no reason for then not to explain or defend their decisions after the match or connect their mics to the stadium PA and do it at the time.
Some of us tried to flag up the dangers of var to our team….not many listened. I wager they’re listening now though.
Great result today…massive credit to the players for fighting through what was very ‘difficult circumstances’.
We saw today the reason they couldn’t get it up and running fast enough , feckin gangsters.
Yep just an example of what we’re gonnae see as the season progresses imo. Didnae take them long did it ? They just couldnae handle us goin intae the lead again just after they’ve equalized and right on HT. THAT would’ve been far too demoralising for the hearts mob. Never even checked the claim. Corrupt as fuck. Made them retake one of their penalties aye, that’s because it SHOULDVE been retaken and people aren’t as blind as they would like. Nothin tae dae wi McLean bein ‘impartial’. Cannae be makin it too obvious.
Any Celtic minded person should have known VAR would be used favourably against us and in support of the dodgy probably corrupt refs and opposition teams. In that respect you have shown extreme naivety and a trust in others ‘ honesty unwarranted James.
VAR is, after today’s example, and will clearly be used to have two goes at denying Celtic. Positively on occasions for the opposing teams’ calls and negatively against Celtic’s calls. Two chances overtly utilised today.
Sadly, I had to listen to the game on sportsound and a more anti Celtic commentary and expert analysis would be difficult to find. The joy of Mccann, Stewart, Haley hun, etc, at those VAR decisions was immeasurable… Packy Bonner is as disgraceful an example of ‘I’m in it for the money’ ex Celtic representative as can be.
Thankfully, Greg Taylor came on, changed the game and was responsible for overcoming honest and hopeful naivety and promotion of VAR. What’s more we’re paying for this and will do more in the future unless Celtic minded people wake up and smell the coffee. Celtic need to get the complaints in now.
Totally agree on Packie Bonner “in for the money”
I watches the game live and how that was not a penalty t(ball on arm) to us i will never know….that prick Andy Walker is another i just can’t stand…..
On the match i was surprised Ange did not sub our Argentine left back i will never know either, he was woeful….
Midfield have to be much stronger as well……passing wasn’t good but hey ho a fantastic victory and glad it was Taylor who got the winner
When will our board stand up to this utter corruption against Celtic
HH
John Harston called it right. Celtic had to beat Hearts and the VAR officials. In my opinion, VAR influenced the scoreline as Celtic would have scored six today. Seven if Mooys doesn’t have the miss of the season. Well done to the Celtic players for taking 3 points despite this fiasco.
Aye! And how they laughed in the sky studio, as it was only a teething problem. Scandalous. Maybe one day our board will grow a pair.
It hits the inside of his arm,for them to then say his arm was close to his side is a joke,it’s a stonewaller if ever there was a stonewaller,sorry they’ve now found a new way to cheat.But let the club take the initiative an say mistakes were made ,we move on for now,but be aware we’re watching.
Ange has said that Celtic hasn’t had a penalty all year.
The team currently scoring more goals than just about the rest of the Premiership combined hasn’t been awarded a penalty yet, despite weekly claims, many of them stonewallers.
This is statistically significant and points only in one direction: referees are refusing to award them.
Unless there is some sort of gambling scam going on, the only other conclusion is that there is something about Celtic that prevents these officials from doing their jobs impartially.
Now what would that be?
I knew the referees were corrupt cheats before var but there was always the excuses from sevco leaning pundits ! Unsighted, it’s difficult in real-time! The refs view might have been obstructed !
What’s the excuse for not giving Celtic a penalty at the end of the first half as with var none of the usual excuses can hold up ?
Celtic have to take this further ask the reason the goal ralston scored wasn’t given (imaginary foul). And why McLean the cheat wasn’t screaming in Walsh the cheats ear stonewall penalty.( there is no honest answer to this one )
If Scottish referees were in a golf tournament where you basically police yourself they would all come in with scores of 20 under par cheating b*as*as.
Guys like McLean are hard wired to hate our club! Fact! And should be nowhere near our games! You saw this only last week when he gave a foul for a Bernabie as he jinked! Past two hibs players! As he couldnt handle another 7-1! We all saw it and there was no other reason it was an astonishing decision that could never be explained by any referee on the planet!! But we know why and it be said in pretend homour no doubt as in ” aye made sure they didnt get the 7″ ” many a true word is spoke in jest”! And here its the default for 99 percent of ” decent huns” which there are none!! We need referee that are impartial! And var could be done from anywhere! But none this will happen for to it to be they need to admit there been a problem for decades! Ehhh Dallas the bigot sacked! Farry the cheat sacked! Proof and facts are there!
I didn’t see the handball incident but Tam Boyd’s 2nd half commentary seemed to tell me that the handball didn’t go to VAR. The on field decision was allowed to stand unchecked. I’ll get a 2nd viewing on that tonight obviously. The 2 penalties for for Hearts were clear penalties and Jenz should have walked after the 2nd one. So things for both teams to moan about I reckon. I enjoyed the game obviously. Hearts gave it a proper go and there is still a lot for Ange to fix on that evidence. But fuck it we won. Mon the Hoops.
What about the dirty fearts lying down to sevco scum they didn’t even have To launder the shirts but bust a gut against us the cheating and corruption has just begun it will end up anscunnnering Ange and he will walk away
The fearts always play against us as if their lives depended on it.
Today was like a blood and snotters cup tie from them.
Compare and contrast their efforts against sevco. Lying down doesn’t adequately describe it.
We also had to contend with 2 officials who are seriously compromised and who made sure all the major decisions went the way of the mini huns.
Never mind. We’re still too good for these cheats, and incidentally, how SHITE are sevco?
Walsh had the discretion not to card Jenz again if a penalty has been awarded. Celtic have to say something about the hand ball. They have no option. I think the Ralston goal should have stood as well but the hand ball is plainly a case of cheating. It really is simple.
What about junkie Martindale sticking it to sevco and all the zombies HAIL! HAIL!
Perhaps both Hearts penalties were technically correct, but on both occasions, the Hearts player is not going to score and has skillfully manipulated the situation to give the VAR officials the opportunity to penalise Celtic. Very cute and right up the referees street.
He also dived forward for no reasons on both! Fact! We never got either! But the hand ball was cheating pure and simple and validated even more by var and the bigot using it and he is one! As we know
We would never have gotten either even the only stonewaller was ours!! And shock! Horror! ( sarcasm) is not given and still that greeting faced neilson moaned utter clown shoe that guy and never gracious in defeat well certainly no with our Great Ckub!
I read they had been training on it for 7 months and had already done many training games in that period…there should be no excuses with preparation like that, if pro refs still can’t be relied upon with that sort of prep, they aren’t fit for purpose…or bent.
The penalty we will always have in Scotland is for our Irish heritage. Racism found its home a long time ago and lives in Scotland’s lodges and society generally. Celtic should insist on refs declaring their allegiances, the SFA secrecy is for a reason.
Surely hun refs will just declare for St Mirren, Motherwell, Hamilton etc?
Forget this irish pish, they just love the club from ibrox.
Ffs what is all this irish pish, we are scottish, or should be you sound like someone who wants independence because you think it’s a hatred towards the English, that’s what they want to get rid, of winging people like you, at least £40trillon to set up a national bank, who will pay pensions, 1.5million out of 6million paying tax in our country, we are a country dependent on benefits, where is the magic money tree, cretin.
Martin H, What a fool you are talking Scotland down. how on earth do countries of a similar size as Scotland not only survive but have better pensions, welfare systems and far more investment in business and research than the UK. where do you get your figures from some Unionist comic I would guess. You talk of Irish Pish which makes me pretty sure you’re a bluenose Unionist troll on this site. No real Celtic supporter would talk of our founding fathers with such insulting language.
Refereeing in Scotland along with the upper echelons of the SFA are an obviously corrupt part of Scottish society along with the so called Football journalists. The Celtic Board should be calling for Steven McLean’s head after this debacle.
He a hun mhate disregard that fanny that he is! Angry cause he know another title on the way to PARADISE! While he let the oldco die!! Cause his ilk didnt give a monkeys!! So he on a Champions! Blog to see how real fans do it!! Ones that ove and save their club and heritage!
Love their club!! As in us! We are Celtic and they are us!
Well said sir !
Zombie unionist twat.
About time you started doing some serious reading.
Do you think for one minute that if Scotland cost the UK Treasury serious money that they would fight tooth and nail to hang on to us.
For 300 years they have been plundering our resources to balance their own books and they are still doing it.
Up until about the 1920’s the Treasury had to prepare a Financial report for Westminster showing the annual Tax receipts from Scotland. They stopped doing it because the figures were so embarrassing to the British Establishment and blatantly in Englands favour that they had to hide it from both the Scottish and English Electorate. The start of the dependency myth.
Bear in mind that the Electorate then was not as universal as it is today which only exacerbated the scale of the deception Westminster was pulling on the UK at large. More especially considering that in the post WW1 years the returning forces were faced with high levels of unemployment and little or no State Benefits for the masses.
Yet they were coining it in from Scotland with little of the money going back across the border. Scotland then as now was deprived of funding to keep us too poor, too wee and subservient.
Even now the Scottish Block Grant we receive is less than half of the Income Tax receipts generated in Scotland alone and that doesn’t even take into account the plethora of other taxes raised in Scotland.
Spot on!
SHOCKING decisions again today, what’s new, Refereeing a revolution is needed to rid Scottish football of the cheating, BBC RANGERS SPORTSOUND/SCENE, no shame in this game. Totally Biased.and corrupt.
The celtic board must pipe up on today’s cheating.
It’s better and carries more weight to highlight it on a day we won the 3pts.
If I was Michael Nicolson I would be warned the spfl/sfa if the blatant corruption continues we won’t be paying towards funding it.
On another note well done to all the team they never gave up and fought till the end for the points Hail hail