Bringing us up to date with the big calls reviewed from Match Week Ten in the SPFL.
VAR will definitely be in operation this weekend!
Will this make the Yorkshire Whistler redundant? Or (more likely), will it add another layer to the complexity and intrigue surrounding big calls in SPFL matches? <- Leading question alert
This week, Celtic battered Hibernian without incident whilst The Rangers hosted Were at Motherwell with incident aplenty. If by incident we don’t mean attractive football.
The impact of that call being incorrect can then be evaluated using the framework outlined here -> Honest Mistakes in the SPFL.
16/10/22 Motherwell vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee David Dickinson Game Minute 69th
Incident Lundstram scores from a corner Outcome Goal to TRFC Evidence Motherwell 1-2 Rangers | Malik Tillman helps The Blues bounce-back at Fir Park | cinch Premiership - YouTube
At 2:57
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict Lundstram scores for Rangers
Initial on field decision: Goal awarded
A corner is swung in and Lundstram swoops to head the ball home.
There is a question mark over if the ball hits his head or his arm first and having watched the footage several times over, it is pretty inconclusive.
Given the lack of an appeal from the surrounding defenders which indicates there was no obvious handball offence and going with my gut instinct here, I feel the goal should have stood.
Verdict: Correct decision
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Incident 2
Referee David Dickinson Game Minute 87th
Incident King fouls McKinstry Outcome Free kick to Motherwell and YC to King Evidence https://twitter.com/Zeshankenzo/status/1581666897405571080?s=20&t=qjq62XVPnEtiz45MA7y60g
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict King fouls McKinstry
On field decision: Free kick to Motherwell. Yellow card shown to King
King clears fouls the Motherwell striker here, but the question here is, was the yellow card for a reckless crackle enough punishment.
A red card could have been shown here if the challenge was deemed to be a DOGSO of also if the challenge was deemed to be of excessive force that endangers opponents’ safety.
My opinion is that this is not a DOGSO tackle given that the players touch if he retains possession is sending him out wider rather than directly towards goal. This coupled with the covering central defender satisfies me enough in this area.
The tackle itself is certainly reckless in nature (yellow card criteria) but it appears to be a genuine if mistimed attempt to play the ball and it not particularly high or excessive.
So, on balance yellow card was sufficient.
Verdict: Correct decision to show the yellow card
Expected Points
Outcome
No impact
Summary
My thanks as always to the Yorkshire Whistler.
What is noteworthy apart from congratulations to David Dickinson for getting the big calls correct, is that the second incident which, given the game state, could have had a significant bearing on the outcome, was ignored in BBC reports, BBC Sportscene and SPFL highlights.
Very odd, but a trend.
No change to the overall picture:

Based on the in-match game state when the decisions were made (or not made), The Rangers have 1.08 MORE points than expected due to the cumulative impact of Honest Mistakes and Celtic 1.45 LESS.
A swing of 2.53 xPts.
Celtic led by two points after ten matches.