Honest Mistakes 2025/26 - Week Six
More basketball calls for the Yorkshire Whistler.
A gentle loosener this week.
Thankfully, the Yorkshire Whistler maintains calm, rational detachment.
27/09/25 Celtic vs Hibernian
Incident 1
Referee: Don Robertson
Game Minute: 71st
Score At Time: 0-0
Incident: Cadden blocks cross into the box
Outcome: No decision
Evidence: Provided
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Cadden blocks a cross into the box
IOD: No decision
As the Celtic player drills a cross into the box, the defender, at very close proximity, stretches to block the cross. The ball’s trajectory actually goes behind the defender’s body, and it is his trailing right arm that makes accidental contact with the ball.
Given the body shape of the defender making the block appears natural for the block, coupled with the close proximity and limited reaction time, I do not feel this action should have been penalised as a handball offence for making the body shape unnaturally larger.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
28/09/25 Livingston vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee: John Beaton
Game Minute: 24th
Score At Time: 0-1
Incident: Raskin goes over in the box at a corner
Outcome: Penalty to TRFC
Evidence: Sportscene: Premiership Highlights - 2025/26: 29/09/2025 - BBC iPlayer
At 7:07
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Raskin goes over in the box
IOD: Penalty to Rangers
As a cross is swung over, in a congested penalty area, Raskin goes to ground quite theatrically and in real time it is difficult to see why.
However, upon watching the replay, you can see the Livingston defender is pulling at the bottom of his shirt. Once this is brought to the referee’s attention via the on-field monitor, I can understand why a penalty is awarded.
Even though I feel the Rangers man makes a meal of the pull and isn’t as impacted as his reaction suggests, the pulling on the shirt motion is long enough not to be overlooked once spotted by the VAR. A soft decision, but not incorrect.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 2
Referee: John Beaton
Game Minute: 43rd
Score At Time: 0-1
Incident: Cornelius scores for TRFC
Outcome: No decision
Evidence: Sportscene: Premiership Highlights - 2025/26: 29/09/2025 - BBC iPlayer
At 10:18
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Cornelius scores for Rangers
IOD: Goal disallowed for handball
As the ball bounces up it appears to hit Cornelius accidentally before he slots home from close range. The ball strikes the Rangers player just below the T-shirt line on his right arm. I would say the right arm is not in an unnatural position, as it isn’t particularly extended. However, crucial to the decision here is what happens immediately after the accidental handball contact.
The law around handball states that it is classed as a handball offence if the player immediately scores, after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental.
So in context here, if Cornelius had then played the ball to a team mate who had gone on to score, the goal would have stood, as the goal scorer himself had benefited from the accidental handball and scored, then a handball offence has now occurred.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Summary
My thanks, as always, to the Yorkshire Whistler.
It calmed down this week, and Willie’s proteges are back on track.
The Rangers have been estimated to have been hampered by 1.45 expected points this far.
Celtic leads by seven points after six games.