This morning brought yet more proof that The Daily Record just cannot stop putting its foot in its own mouth, as it was forced to roll back on its own article from yesterday—an article that allegedly “proved” the manager was wrong to call out the SFA over the disallowed Maeda goal.
Last night, the Record published a picture which it claimed proved the ball was over the line and that the decision was therefore correct.
Shortly afterward, my old man sent me a video clip that cast at least severe doubt on that claim. It was a clip of Gary Neville demonstrating how, if you view one of these decisions from the wrong angle, it can create a wholly false impression. The angle Neville highlighted was virtually identical to the one The Record ran with yesterday. And now, as more footage emerges—including from fans recording from different perspectives—Neville’s theory has been proven correct.
You can look at Neville’s excellent piece of analysis here.
Which, of course, means that The Record has been proven absolutely wrong. And this morning, in the Sunday Mail, they’ve practically had to go on bended knee and admit it. Not only has ex-Ibrox player Neil McCann slammed the decision, but virtually everyone who’s looked at it more than once has done the same.
There is now so much fan footage emerging that not only strengthens Celtic’s case but also supports what Rodgers said about it being a guess—and an absolutely wrong one at that. Even The Record is now furiously backtracking on its own total rubbish.
But this is what The Record does. Rather than acknowledge Celtic’s point—one that was valid regardless of what footage later emerged or what “fan evidence” was uncovered—they rushed to back the officials. And I can easily imagine which fans it was who produced the so-called “evidence” that the officials got it right.
Procedurally, Rodgers is correct.
Since the VAR official did not have access to all those additional angles, and since the VAR team therefore did not have any conclusive proof that the ball crossed the line, the rulebook is very clear: the referee’s decision should not have been overturned.
VAR exists to correct clear and obvious errors.
Alan Muir is going to have to stand in front of Willie Collum and explain where the clear and obvious error was—because when you look at the footage VAR did have, it is neither clear nor obvious that a mistake had been made.
So what this guy has done is make up the rules on the hoof. He’s done it off his own back. And he’s embarrassed the referee, the linesman, and the SFA—or at least, in a properly functioning footballing nation, he would have embarrassed all three. Instead, a national newspaper is trying to get him off the hook.
This wasn’t about all the officials yesterday. This was about Alan Muir. This was one guy taking a wild stab at it. And Brendan Rodgers is right to demand an answer. “On what basis did he make the decision?”
Because it certainly wasn’t on the basis of what’s in the rulebook. If he knows something we don’t—if Muir has access to some secret, special angle that no one else has seen—then he should tell us. He should tell his bosses. They should tell Celtic. Because people deserve an answer.
Even if you exclude bias from the discussion entirely and just look at this decision in blunt terms, there is a staggering arrogance to it. The kind of arrogance that says, I know better. I don’t care that there’s no actual proof—I know this in my bones, and here’s my verdict. There’d be a lot more people in jail if juries worked that way. It’s precisely why the legal system operates on the basis of reasonable doubt.
I couldn’t care less what Muir’s motivations were.
What I do know is that he had no clear image of that incident on which to base his judgment. For the SFA to use the word “factual” in its statement to the media makes them look like a joke—it turns his mistake into their scandal, because there was nothing factual about it. If you’re going to use the word “factual,” you’d better have some facts—and the only facts support the Celtic boss.
And the more images that get released, the more The Record looks embarrassing, the more the SFA looks embarrassing, and the more Muir is going to have to stand up and explain himself.
He would still have to explain himself even if this decision was ultimately proven correct—because he couldn’t possibly have known that when he made it. But the fact that this decision is so clearly, so obviously wrong means he’s all out of room to run.
We’re not naive enough to expect any accountability here. We’re not the Ibrox fans, working themselves into a frenzy over a decision and then believing, “Oh well, the referee will be banned for six games now”, only to stamp their feet wildly when the SFA inevitably doesn’t do that.
But Muir deserves the same public humiliation that some of his colleagues have been subjected to. That means Collum is going to have to appear on his little show and tell us what we already know—this was a misapplication of the rules at best, and someone making it up as they went along at worst.
We’re owed an apology. And in the absence of being awarded the point we were robbed of, that’s going to have to do. But I want the apology. And so does Brendan.
Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images
And yet the daily rat published a photo any 12yo would be able to mock up in graphics class. Its so obvious a fake to even blind fred ffs!. So much is the hatred of celtic at the daily rat that they in desperation to throw shade print this abomination.
There are digital media protection laws designed to prevent incitement or hatred and let me tell you printing that stolen photo from x fails that law hands down.
Are we now to be subjected to manipulated photos anytime there is a debated call or is that reserved only for Celtic plc.
Actually saw this analysis late last night and bein one of the people who thought the ball was out, it’s given me a big rethink. Agree if Muir wasn’t 100% sure, he should have went with his referee and linesman. Even more so now, we should be demandin tae see this ‘conclusive’ evidence Muir is supposed tae have.
Guaranteed they’ll come out with human error and all that , blah, blah, blah.
It was because he thought he could impede celtic getting a point hoping later that sevco could cut the gap by three points, it’s that blatant, var always impedes celtic whenever they get a chance, he should be suspended for this and all his other ( genuine ! ) mistakes which I’m sure there are plenty since var was introduced.
It may or may not have been over the line and that is the point, for not one of us can judge the proper position of the ball with any certainty. That of course being the case means that the original decision should not have been overturned.
Goodghuy will be on next telling us that we are all blind and that we need eye tests. He’s definitely a wrong yin that one, and I have severe doubts about his allegiances.
I’m sorry James, but I want a hell of a lot more than an apology. I want Muir removed from VAR, he is guilty of gross misconduct, there is no way he could make a factual decision. He has told the referee the ball is clearly out, this had a direct outcome on the match. He is compromised and can’t be trusted, either he doesn’t know or doesn’t care about the rules and in both scenario’s his position is untenable.
Naw Naw Johnny, goodghuy is always right and anybody that disagrees with him is a fool. Thank God he doesn’t sit next to me at Celtic Park,although like you I doubt he’s ever seen near Celtic Park.
9/10 I’m right, we can’t be perfect all the time pal.
That’s good to hear then goodguy as it’s a helluva far better percentage than your pal ‘Jackshun’ from The Daily Scummy of The Scummy Scottish Football Media for sure…
Well from what I read on here anyway about that pathological truth subverter Jackshun….
As I certainly wouldn’t insult whatever modicum of intelligence that I may – or even may not possess – by purchasing his rag of pathological lies even once in a shop or online…
Anyway he or the rest at The Scummy won’t be there very long… The misery of The Dole doth beckon for them…
I’ve got the crates of San Miguel ready to celebrate along with some finest Highland, Lowland, Speyside and Islay Malts at the ready to CELEBRATE and celebrate BIG TIME when The Scummy Record Dies !!!
@ JG. Weird that. Just yesterday when ah mentioned about the ball bein in or out, ye said it wisnae the point, that it didnae matter. If yer gonnae nitpick, make sure ye don’t contradict yerself.
I didn’t.
@ JG. Quote ‘ Over the line or not doesn’t matter. That’s not the point ‘. And now your sayin it ‘is’ the point and yer no contradictin yerself ? Aye no bad.
I think you’ve misread the post (though easy done). He’s saying it may or may not have been in… that’s the point, we can’t tell. He means the point is that the pictures Muir had access to don’t prove anything either way so he can’t get involved (by his boss’s guidance) bit he did.
Nitpicking? aye good word. I thought my meaning was perfectly clear no matter how you decided to interpret it.
I was watching that game on the television and up to that point in the game was being quite philosophical and calm, as I thought we had been off it for most of the game, and Hibs probably deserved to be in the lead. Then came that incident, I couldn’t believe that a guy sitting in Clydesdale House could be either so dishonest or so stupid as to turn over an on field decision by the Linesman and Referee, without clear and obvious evidence that the wrong decision had been made. At that point I got angry that an official could be so arrogant as to think he could take it upon himself to insult our intelligence,
I also wonder why he didn’t ask the referee to go over to the monitor? Could it be that he knew the clear and obvious evidence wasn’t there, to justify the changing of the on field decision of a goal.
Muir has history with us and robbed Ronnie Dielas team of a probable treble, when failing to spot an Inverness player palming a net bound header off the goal line, whilst standing no more than 2 yards away with a clear view.
VAR with the right equipment and smart unbiased people involved, could be a good thing and help get to the correct decisions, but when you have officials making it up a they go along, it’s actually causing more controversy.
Anybody that disagrees with yourself and Jonny are not Celtic supporters, you in the green brigade Micmac ?
Naw Goodghuy, you are the only one, if the cap fits and all that?
It’s the goodghuy, not goodghuy, a wish people would start using manners. Christ it does not cost anything.
Scotland has procured the Poundland version of VAR, leaving room for hand drawn lines and far too much in the way of interpretation and subjectivity. VAR is here to stay, to improve decision-making and reduce errors. Haven’t seen any articles around on the differences, both technical and commercial between our yellow label technology and the business class model used by UEFA and the Premier League.
I think some focus should be given to the Record’s immediate support for the officials. Is this not the same paper that lead a crusade against the VAR officials in a recent cup final? If I recall correctly, particular focus was placed on the second in line – because of his name – who only had a minor and limited role to play in any decision making process. Incredible double standards on the part of this newspaper(?).
You’re too kind JT calling them a ‘newspaper’ in my humble opinion…
Perhaps a Pathological truth fabricating Scummy before the ‘newspaper’ bit would be my ascertation !!!
James,
Like many others, I am unsure if the ball was in or out. The issue, though, is procedure – as you say.
It is perhaps one of these subjective decisions that Willie Collum talks of.
Perhaps it would be worth considering the same incident from a different approach? Had the linesman said the ball was out of play, would the VAR have been charging in to say have another look at this incident? Would there have been sufficient evidence to say that a clear and obvious error had taken place?
I realise that not giving a goal because the ball is out of play is less contentious than disallowing a goal already “scored” – but, as everyone is saying, unless the SFA have alternative evidence, nothing has been shown that demonstrates that the whole of the ball was over the whole of the line.
Alan Muir, omg 4 examples of what he is starfelt v Ross county Dingwall deliberate elbow to the face yellow for protesting to referee next challenge sent off . Knocked out of league cup at Kilmarnock stonewall trip on hacksabanovic in the box no penalty.
Scottish cup final Muir standing 5 yards away Caley outfield player saves the Leigh Griffith header on the line no penalty and red card .yesterday Muir on var no conclusive evidence the all was out yet he intervened to disallow the goal given by linesman and referee. These are a few of the major ones there are hundreds of minor ones also .
Muir is either incompetent (doesn’t know or is incapable of applying the rules) or biased (of course he could be both of these things). Either way he should be demoted at the very least – preferably reffing amateur matches in pub leagues.
It is so far from a clear and obvious error that Willie Collum has a real decision to make on this one. Which part of the rules did his official not understand, yet was allowed to officiate? Why did his official deemed a clear and obvious error had occurred when all can see that this was not the case?
micmac. It was not Muir who refereed the game against Caley Thistle, it was Mclean who refereed the game against Hibs and did not disallow the goal. That was Muir in the VAR place. It was McLean who refereed the game against Caley Thistle.
How naive we were when Temu VAR first came in thinking it would cut out the errors,but infact we’ve suffered most with some ridiculous decisions.We pay the most for this abomination surely we need to put pressure on the authorities to upgrade.mind you we would still have the same clowns officiating
@ JG Ye can try and be a smart arse all ye like. You ‘corrected’ me on an earlier article, when ah just obviously hadn’t made maself clear enough. Tho yer 1st sentence, of yer 1st comment here, is a total contradiction of what ye ‘corrected’ me with. It’s right there ! How ah ‘interprit’ it has fk all tae dae with it.
The word is interpret…. at least at the school I went to. LOL
As ah said, smart arse. Sorry we’re no all infallible like you. Fuck off ya clown.
Touchy Touchy…..:-)