Former referee Dermot Gallagher insists Philippe Clement was wrong to claim Hibs were unfairly awarded a penalty at Ibrox but insists it was the right decision not to red card John Souttar for the handball that led to the spot kick.
And the ex English Premier League whistler explained the difference between Souttar’s incident and one which resulted in a sending off for Motherwell’s Dan Casey in their clash against St Mirren as the Scottish Premiership was given the full Sky Sports Ref watch treatment.
Clement was fuming after the game and went to the extent of reenacting the incident in his post match press conference to explain why the spot kick, which Jack Butland saved from Mykola Kukharevych, should not have been awarded. He said: “It was discussed before this season not to give easy penalties for short distance in those moments, so for me, it’s not a penalty.
“He cannot put his elbow against his body when you turn yourself and you go with your leg up. You cannot put your arm somewhere inside your body, so he makes himself smaller to not be coming in like that.” Here, Gallagher explains why he was wrong – and has his say on other key incidents over the weekend in Scotland’s top flight
Hibs penalty John Souttar handball
DG: “The ball is going directly towards the goal and his arm is outstretched. He’s blocked a shot at goal. The keeper is there so it’s not a red card but it is a handball and a penalty.”
Dan Casey red card for handball and St Mirren penalty (incident was compared to Souttar’s)
DG: “He denies a goal. That’s the difference. There’s no goalkeeper there this time. It’s going to go into the net so that’s the difference.”
Hibs midfielder Nectarios Triantis booked for foul on Robin Propper
DG: “I think it’s a yellow card. He gets the ball but it’s the force and intensity that he’s yellow carded for but he doesn’t go over the top of the ball or land with his studs on the shin.”
Daizen Maeda disallowed goal after VAR intervention for Celtic vs St Johnstone for foul by Auston Trusty on Graham Carey
DG: “It’s a brilliant spot by the VAR because when I saw this clip I thought ‘Why’s he on the floor?’. But he caught him on the way through and the goal was disallowed correctly but whether it’s a red card I’m not sure.”
Dundee penalty for foul by Aberdeen’s Gavin Molloy on Simon Murray
DG: “He gets the wrong side of the defender and by getting the wrong side it’s very difficult for him to get to the ball.”
Motherwell penalty after Dan Casey fouled by Marcus Fraser
DG: “This is a really interesting decision because it’s not clear but if you watch the player who he gives it against – he’s got his back to the ball – he doesn’t even look at the ball, know where it is – and only concentrates on the player. He hasn’t gone to play the ball, he’s got a hold of his man.”
Lennon Miller goal given after VAR review for potential handball
DG: “The ball comes off his arm but it’s how high it is. The referee thinks it’s high enough to be in the ‘green zone’.