The 10-men pulled back a goal at Easter Road after VAR checked the flashpoint
The ball appears to strike Joe Newell’s arm in the build-up to Hibs’ goal
The SFA have explained VAR’s decision not to chalk off Joe Newell’s goal for Hibs in their clash with Celtic.
It was a controversial afternoon at Easter Road at Martin O’Neill’s men secured a crucial three points in the Scottish Premiership title race.
After Jamie McGrath was booked by referee David Dickinson, Don Robertson in the VAR room intervened to send the man in the middle to the pitchside monitor for his tackle on Alistair Johnston.
That was upgraded to a red before Daizen Maeda put the visitors in front, and Robertson and the team in Clydesdale House took centre stage as Newell levelled before half time.
Claims were made that the ball had struck Newell’s arm before he put the ball into the net. But after VAR checked the flashpoint, the Hibs goal stood.
The SFA released guidance to Sky Sports over the incident, stating there was “insufficient evidence of a handball to overturn the on-field decision.”
In response, James McFadden noted that Robertson and the off-field officials would have to be certain to make a factual overturn.
He said: “It only takes one person in there to say ‘I don’t think it does’ – it has to be 100 per cent.
“If they look at it and think it is a handball it’s overturned – because it’s factual. If you think it might be, then that’s re-refereeing and that’s not what it was brought in for.”
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