Celtic’s 2-1 loss to Hibernian continues to generate discussion, and former referee Des Roache has issued a firm judgement on the Liam Scales penalty controversy.
The incident unfolded soon after Auston Trusty’s dismissal. With the contest still finely poised, Celtic earned a corner.
As the delivery was about to drop into the six-yard area, Scales was visibly restrained by Jack Iredale. His arm was seized. His jersey was tugged. Rather than challenging for the cross, he found himself on the turf.
He said: (Hotline Live), “That was a penalty kick. It was a clear, clear penalty kick. Scales is well built. You’ve got it on the screen there.
“Iredale’s got a hold of his arm, he’s got a hold of his jersey. And if you look straight behind again, a pair of black socks, how close is he to it?
“What I would say is he doesn’t need to be looking at the ball because the ball’s only going to come one place. The ball’s going to land in there. That’s what the assistant referee’s for.
“They’re there to watch. What the referee should be doing, and he’s probably switched off, the referee should be looking at what’s going on at that moment in time in the penalty area. The ball’s coming in anyway. But to me, that is a clear and obvious error. And VAR should have been involved in that.
“See, and I’ve heard that as well, saying that because Scales wasn’t going to get the ball. I’m sorry, that’s not the rules. That’s not the laws of the game. That’s not what it’s there for. You’re there to make an opinion on an instance in front of you.
“A player who’s been pulled, he’s been grappled inside the penalty area. We’re getting guys sent off for running away from the halfway line and getting trips left, right and centre. That’s as clear a penalty kick as you’re going to get.
“It doesn’t matter whether he’s going to get it or not. You act upon the incident that you can see. And why VAR has chosen to get involved in something needlessly and ignore that? Because that’s a potential goal. That’s a potential red card. It’s a potential penalty kick. It’s a completely wrong call.”
Play was allowed to continue. VAR did not instruct the referee to review the footage on the monitor.
Roache is adamant that was an obvious error. The ex-Category 1 official insisted the contact inside the area satisfied the criteria for a penalty and warranted a review.
Roache’s case centres on the events inside the box. Scales is attempting to attack the space with purpose. He is not drifting without intent. He is dragged off his path. That denies a scoring chance before the ball even drops.
That is the crucial element. If a defender halts a run by clutching a shirt, it does not need to look theatrical. It simply has to stop the attacker from competing fairly.
The broader irritation stems from the inconsistency. VAR stepped in to elevate Trusty’s challenge to a red card. It remained inactive here. One episode is scrutinised frame by frame. The other is dismissed.
In a championship battle defined by narrow margins, that disparity carries weight. Celtic were already a man down. A spot-kick offers a lifeline and a chance to regain momentum.
Instead, the set-piece came and went, the opportunity vanished, and Hibs ultimately claimed maximum points. That chain of events is why the argument refuses to fade.