Kris Boyd Criticises the VAR Decision Following Celtic’s 5-2 Victory

Kris Boyd Criticises the VAR Decision Alistair Johnston’s challenge on Roland Idowu went unpunished after Celtic’s 5-2 victory,

10th November 2024; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Ex Kilmarnock player Kris Boyd

despite demands for a penalty from some after the game. St Mirren were trailing 3-2 at the time. Some individuals have expressed varying opinions regarding the incident, which, according to Ian Crocker of Sky Sports, did not receive a significant amount of scrutiny from VAR.

Boyd’s Surprise at the Decision to Not Penalise Kris Boyd, a former Rangers striker, expressed his surprise at the referee’s decision not to award a penalty on Sky Sports following the game. Boyd stated, “I am astounded that this penalty has not been imposed.”

Listen, there is a faint touch on the ball, but he goes through and completely eliminates him. The studs penetrate the tibia, and I am astounded that a penalty kick has not been awarded. Other commentators shared his frustration, as the challenge occurred at a critical juncture in the game, with Celtic leading 3-2 and St Mirren attempting to score an equaliser.

Neil Lennon, the former Celtic manager, concurred with Boyd’s assessment that the challenge called for a penalty. “In all honesty, I believe it is a penalty,” Lennon declared. James McFadden concurred with his assessment that the challenge was sufficient to justify a penalty.

“They stated that the ball was touched, and the contact was a natural one in football.” McFadden further stated, “That is a penalty for me.” The panel unanimously agreed that the tackle was reckless and dangerous, notably due to the challenge’s position above the ankle, despite a slight touch on the ball. The Significance of the Moment Celtic swiftly

capitalists the let-off, making the timing of the challenge crucial. Boyd observed that the Hoops were able to ascend the pitch and score, thereby effectively securing the victory. “It is also a critical moment because Celtic ascends the pitch and scores,”

he stated, emphasising the influence of the non-call on the match’s outcome. A Decision That Is Subject to Debate in an Eventful Game Despite Celtic’s eventual 5-2 victory, the controversy regarding the Alistair Johnston challenge is expected to persist, as both St Mirren and Celtic supporters have expressed varying opinions on whether a penalty should have been awarded.

It is evident that decisions such as these will continue to be a topic of discussion in the weeks ahead, as Celtic maintain their commanding lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership. Nevertheless, Celtic’s experience with a number of subpar VAR decisions this season demonstrates that the technology is not always as dependable as it should be in ensuring the correct outcome in critical moments of the game.

It is possible that Johnston’s challenge will be widely covered in Scotland over the next week. However, it is important to note that Celtic have received negative decisions from VAR this season, as they were wrongly disallowed an equaliser against Hibs just a week ago.