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It’s the norm for Celtic to be involved in games where there are a few controversial calls, and that was the case at Pittodrie on Wednesday night.
Late in the first half, there were penalty shouts from the Celtic players when they felt that Aberdeen defender Jack Milne handled the ball.
Sebastian Tounekti’s cross certainly hit the arm of the Aberdeen player, but on-field referee Nick Walsh waved calls away, so did VAR, and Dermot Gallagher agreed with them all.
“I think too close; it comes at him too fast,” stated Gallagher. “His arm is tucked in. So, not for me.”
Thankfully, Celtic went on to beat Aberdeen, but that doesn’t mean it still wasn’t a talking point.
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Dermot Gallagher’s views on Celtic’s handball shout against Aberdeen
Gallagher was sitting alongside former Premier League player Jay Bothroyd when they were talking about Celtic’s penalty shout.
What’s interesting is that Bothroyd referenced the handball calls that have been made in Scotland this season, as well as Gallagher’s comments about them, and how ‘strict’ the powers that be have been.
On that note, Bothroyd suggested that the Hoops perhaps should have been awarded a spot-kick, but Gallagher, once again, waved it away, as he told Ref Watch on Sky Sports News (05/03/26).
Gallagher: “I think too close; it comes at him too fast. His arm is tucked in. So, not for me.”
Bothroyd: “The only thing I am surprised with there is that a penalty isn’t given is because of how strict they have been with their decisions.”
Gallagher: “But it’s down by his side, isn’t?”
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesBut what has Gallagher said previously about the handball rule in Scotland…
Only at the weekend, Gallagher was praising the officials in Scotland for being ‘100% consistent’ on their ‘handball application in Scotland.’
This came after Celtic were awarded a penalty at Ibrox after Dujon Sterling was punished, and these were the comments Bothroyd was making reference to.
“Absolutely consistent with what they have done all season,” said Gallagher last weekend about Celtic winning a penalty for handball at Ibrox
“I saw one replay, and I thought ‘this was going to be a penalty’, because, you ask for consistency, they are 100% consistent on the handball application in Scotland. No doubt about it.
“Every time that happens. The referee always points to the spot. Or if the referee doesn’t see it, the VAR alerts him like he has done here.”
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