Honest Mistakes: Week Seven
Go where you are celebrated, not where you are tolerated
Celtic visited Dingwall, while The Rangers faced St Johnstone at home. Those opponents are statistically the two worst teams in the league but both matches were much tighter than that. And a fair work list for the Yorkshire Whistler to pick through.
The impact of incorrect big calls can be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
06/10/24 Ross County vs Celtic
Incident 1
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 38th
Score At Time: 0-0
Incident: Scales blocks a cross into the box.
Outcome: No decision upgraded to a penalty upon VAR review for handball by Scales.
At 0:52
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on-field decision: No decision but after VAR review, a penalty awarded for a handball offence
Scales closes down a cross and the ball appears to accidentally hit his left arm as it is crossed. At full speed, it is difficult to spot what contact is made and where but upon replay we see the ball deflect off Scales' outstretched arm.
Bit harsh on Scales but on balance I can just about see why it was deemed as a handball offence. Scales’s body shape is quite flat on and he attempts to block with his right shoulder tucked in but as he pivots his left arm extends out quite wide and does make his body shape unnaturally larger. This left arm is actually coming back in as the ball hits it but at the point of contact it is hard to justify why his arm is extended and so a handball offence is adjudged to have been committed.
Another subjective call on whether body shape is made larger and not justifiable specific to that specific situation or not.
Verdict: CORRECT decision just.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 2
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 40th
Score At Time: 0-0
Incident: Schmeichel saves Hale’s penalty.
Outcome: A retake for encroachment by Schmeichel.
At 1:37
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on-field decision: Penalty ordered to be retaken following VAR review for goalkeeper encroachment
Schmeichel saves the match penalty but is retaken due to the keeper being fully off the line as the kick is taken. Much as I felt that Butland's penalty last week should have been penalised for this encroachment offence, Schmeichel does come forward off his line too early and the correct call is made by VAR.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 3
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 50th
Score At Time: 1-0
Incident: Randall and Kuhn are involved in an altercation.
Outcome: YC issued to Randall and Kuhn.
Evidence: Provided
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on-field decision: Cautions to Randall and Kuhn
Both players have a verbal exchange and step towards each other. The Celtic man moves his head slightly forward and his opponent drops to the floor. No headbutt has occurred here and the referee intervenes and shows both players a yellow card each for adopting an aggressive attitude.
Bit of frustration was displayed by both players, certainly nothing more in it than a yellow card at worst.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 4
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 57th
Score At Time: 1-0
Incident: Maeda is challenged as he shoots for goal.
Outcome: No decision.
At 3:30
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on-field decision: No decision following VAR review
Just as Maeda gets his shot off, the Ross County defender's sliding momentum sees him slide into Maeda. Yes, there is contact but not all contact is necessarily a foul and here Maeda's shot has already been parried away so by the time the contact happens, it doesn’t impact Maeda's ability to compete for the loose ball.
I wouldn’t expect to see a penalty awarded here.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 5
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 88th
Score At Time: 1-1
Incident: Kuhn scores and runs towards the crowd.
Outcome: No decision.
At 4:16
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on-field decision: No decision
I have no problem with players celebrating with their own fans as long as it is not putting players or fans' safety at risk. Last-minute winners and the pure elation that occurs and the bond between player & supporter in these moments capture the emotional essence of the game.
If this triggers multiple spectators spilling out onto the pitch or causes security concerns then I would say the player has caused excessive celebrations and would expect to be cautioned under current guidelines.
However, when seeing this clip my only thought was to smile and enjoy the moment as a neutral. Not be waiting for a yellow card to be issued and ruin the mood!
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
06/10/24 The Rangers vs St Johnstone
Incident 1
Referee: David Dickinson
Game Minute: 23rd
Score At Time: 0-0
Incident: Dessers and Essel challenge in the box.
Outcome: No decision following VAR review.
Evidence: Sportscene - Premiership Highlights 2024/25: 06/10/2024 - BBC iPlayer
At 45:00
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on-field decision: No decision following VAR review
As a cross is swung in, Essel does appear to have a slight tug on Dessers shirt for a split second.
Similar to several incidents reviewed last season, we acknowledged that if you hold onto player's shirt in the box, no matter how briefly, you are potentially asking the ref to make a decision if they see it. As defenders and attackers fiercely contest and compete for the same space, particularly from set pieces we have to ask how long and impactful is the contact/pull and is enough to prevent the player from making contact with the ball.
On balance, I do not feel there is any meaningful impact on Dessers from the very brief pull of the shirt and do not feel it crosses the threshold to have been adjudged a foul and penalty decision.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 2
Referee: David Dickinson
Game Minute: 82nd
Score At Time: 2-0
Incident: Hagi challenges Kimpioka
Outcome: Foul to St Johnstone and YC to Hagi upgraded to RC after VAR review.
At 3:18
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Initial on-field decision: Foul to St Johnstone; YC to Hagi upgraded to RC on VAR review
Hagi stretches to make a block and at first glance, a caution seemed the right call as the tackle looked reckless in nature.
However, the benefit of the VAR footage shows that Hagis studs clearly catch Kimpioka at the top of the shin and this kind of challenge with studs showing that high, should be treated as serious foul play for a tackle with excessive force/endangering player safety, a sending off offence.
Correct call by VAR to recommend the on-field review.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
I had to provide supplementary information to him this week as surprisingly he hasn’t consumed and memorised the SPFL’s Rules and Regulations which provide additional local context to the IFAB Laws.
In this case pertinent to the Nicolas Kuhn celebrations that so exercised Kris Boyd on Sky Sports, the following guidance is germane:
“A player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour if, in the opinion of the referee, they leave the field of play during a goal celebration without permission. This includes excessive celebrations, such as climbing over barriers, approaching the fans in a way deemed inappropriate, or leaving the pitch entirely to celebrate.”
The SPFL Rules and Regulations are here.
In terms of the overall position:
Celtic have 0.46 MORE expected points, and The Rangers also have 0.46 MORE due to the impact of Honest Mistakes. So, no “advantage” for either team.
Celtic lead by five points after seven matches.
The Ross Co penalty was similar to the one Celtic got against Hearts, so no complaints.
For the life of me, I can't see how you can say Schmeichel is forward off his line before the ball is struck.
The TV replay picture "proof" was even worse, a blurry image, clearly after the ball had been struck.
Perhaps may aged eyes aren't VARy good.