MusaCeltic were seconds away from crashing out of the Scottish Cup against Dundee, and while a late fightback spared them embarrassment, the tie could have taken a very different course had a first-half penalty been awarded.
One flashpoint in particular dominated discussion at half-time and long after the final whistle. Celtic striker Tomáš Čvančara saw a penalty claim waved away following a physical tussle with Luke Graham as the forward attempted to drive into the box.
Čvančara appeared to be pushed as he carried the ball goalwards, eventually tumbling to the turf just inside the penalty area. Referee Ryan Lee awarded a free kick just outside the box, prompting an immediate VAR check amid loud protests from the home support.
The match was briefly halted as VAR official David Dickinson reviewed the incident, but play soon resumed with the original on-field decision upheld. No penalty was given.
Clarification was later provided through broadcast coverage, with the Scottish Football Association outlining the reasoning behind the call. Speaking on Premier Sports, host Emma Dodds relayed the explanation.
She said: “In the 38th minute, a free kick is correctly awarded outside the penalty area because the pushing began outside and continued inside. However, it can only be punished if it is holding that continues inside. Pushing can only be punished at the initial point of contact.”
In short, while contact did carry into the box, the SFA guidance states that pushing is judged at the point it begins. As that initial contact occurred outside the area, officials deemed a free kick the correct outcome rather than a penalty.
It is a decision that will do little to convince frustrated Celtic supporters, particularly given how close the holders came to elimination. But under current VAR protocol and interpretation, officials believe the laws of the game were applied as written.
Musa
