Celtic expert slams clueless officials as controversial footage re-analysed
Frank McAvennie has slammed the match officials for awarding a penalty to Celtic against Greenock Morton in last weekend’s Scottish Cup tie (21 January(.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Hoops striker said that there was no one on the pitch or in the stadium that believed the Celts should have been awarded the spot-kick.
As shown by the BBC (21 January), Celtic were not initially given a penalty after Liel Abada’s shot deflected off the Morton defender and hit Efe Ambrose’s arm from very close range.
Referee Kevin Clancy didn’t point to the spot but VAR official Craig Napier sent the onfield referee to have another look at the incident after a lengthy stoppage.
The official awarded the penalty and Aaron Mooy slotted home before the Celts secured a 5-0 victory over the Championship side.
McAvennie couldn’t understand how the officials came to that decision: “I just think the referees are making it up as they go along.
“It was never a penalty. There was not one person in the stadium that thought that was a penalty.
“Nobody claimed, none of the players claimed, that is what the difference is.
“You know when it is a penalty. When you can see the reaction from the home team or the away team, you can see the reaction of the players if it is a penalty or not.
“There was not one player who claimed for that.“
In other news, McManus ‘expects’ Celtic striker departure amid Daizen Maeda and Giorgos Giakoumakis updates.