During corner kicks, the Celtic central defender legally positioned himself on the goal line in front of goalie Trevor Carson.
Just ask Joe Hart on the other end, and you’ll see that the Dens No. 1 and every other football goalkeeper barely enjoyed the intrusion, but it has long been a part of the beautiful game.
In his team’s 3-0 home loss against the champs, Carson was obviously under pressure as the visitors scored an amazing TWENTY-THREE corner kicks.
WHEN THEY PUSH TO SHOVE…Trevor Carson and Joe Shaughnessy of Dundee pay great attention to Cameron Carter-Vickers.
In these situations, there is usually some pushing and shoving, and the referees allow quite a deal of leeway. On Tuesday night, referee Don Robertson went a bit too far in his forgiving assessment when Carson asked captain Joe Shaughnessy for assistance in managing the Hoops defender’s goal-line presence.
On his summary, CQN’s match reporter noted that Carter-Vickers was “manhandled” throughout these incidents, but neither the on-field match official nor his VAR assistance appeared to indicate that a penalty kick had been given. It begs the question, why?
Let’s say, for example, that two opponents are obviously impeding the player as they
confront the keeper for a kick-out. The ball is in the air and it’s obvious that two opponents are holding one of the fighters.
The referee’s legitimacy to oversee any game would undoubtedly be called into question if he failed to award a free kick in such a situation.
WHO? ME, REF? Cameron Carter-Vickers pleads his innocence as referee Don Robertson has a word while Dundee keeper Trveor Carson and defender Joe Shaughnessy look on.
Remarkably, the roughhouse tactics on Tayside went unpunished – not for the first time as far as Celtic are concerned.
There was another situation at Ibrox earlier in the season when Brendan Rodgers’ side were denied a stonewall spot-kick – but the incident passed without a mention, as CQN flagged up at the time.
In the 25th minute, eventual matchwinner Kyogo Furuhashi raced clear into the box onto a through ball from Matt O’Riley.
The Japanese striker took the ball in his stride and sized up the situation with Jack Butland coming off his line. Connor Goldson was also rushing back to cover his keeper with Daizen Maeda offering an option for his team-mate.
ONE…Kyogo Furuhashi is confronted with Jack Butland as Connor Goldson races back.
TWO…Kyogo’s shot eludes the keeper, but Goldson slides in to block the ball.
THREE…Kyogo hurtles Butland as the ball breaks loose after Goldson’s clearance.
FOUR…Kyogo is in front of Butland as James Tavernier attempts to clear as Maeda closes in.
FIVE..the ball is cleared as Butland scrambles back into place.
SIX…Butland uses both hands to push Kyogo in the back.
SEVEN…Kyogo tumbles towards the ground after the blatant shove in the back from the keeper.
EIGHT…After the push, Kyogo is left flailing, but amazingly, nothing happens.
Kyogo attempted to slot the ball under the goalie, but the central defender stopped him. Maeda was about to pounce when the ball bounced clear and James Tavernier, having caught up with the play, managed to kick a clearance into the air.
The goalie stood up quickly to be back on his line at that point. He pushed Kyogo aside with both hands, clearly intending to do so.
Butland’s shove was so powerful that it knocked the Hoops forward crashing to the ground. A dive cannot possibly be in doubt.
At the moment, all eyes were focused on the ball, and oddly, the Ibrox No. 1’s purposeful and gave the Celt a hard shove, but nobody noticed.
Don Robertson was the official in charge that day in Govan. That same Don Robertson who opted to ignore the abuse Carter-Vickers received at Dens Park.
Let’s give the referee and his standside helper some grace and say they were tracking the ball’s trajectory, but the VAR officials ought to have seen Kyogo’s covert push into his back.
There seems to be a regulation for Celtic and an opposing team.
All we can do is hope that, after tomorrow afternoon’s events in Parkhead, we are not observing the same things.
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