Refereeing Debate Reignites After Celtic’s Win at Easter Road

Celtic’s 2–1 win over Hibernian on Saturday has once again dragged the handball law into the spotlight, after Liam Scales was penalised midway through the second half.

‎The incident came from a crowded corner situation, with the ball ricocheting through a pack of players before striking Scales as he tried to clear. Referee Nick Walsh initially waved play on, but VAR intervened and advised him to review the moment on the pitchside monitor. After a short look, Walsh pointed to the spot, allowing Martin Boyle to pull one back for Hibs and change the momentum of a match Celtic had largely controlled.

‎Although the champions held on for a valuable three points, the decision immediately triggered wider discussion about the inconsistency surrounding handball rulings in the VAR era—a frustration that has surfaced repeatedly across the league this season.

‎Former Referees Question Consistency

‎After the final whistle, ex-SFA officials Des Roache and Steve Conroy weighed in via The Ref’s View, expressing their concern at how differently similar incidents are judged from game to game. They noted that while Walsh’s decision was technically defensible under the current interpretation, many clearer handball situations often go unpunished, leaving players and supporters confused about what the law actually demands.

‎Their reaction captured the core issue: the gap between how an action looks at full speed and how it appears when slowed down frame-by-frame. In real time, Scales seemed to have no chance to react to a ball flying through a congested penalty area. Freeze-frames, however, make almost any contact look intentional, adding fuel to ongoing debates about fairness and common sense in officiating.

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‎Celtic Show Resolve Despite Controversy

‎Despite the tension created by the penalty, Celtic managed the final stages well, leaning on defensive discipline to secure the victory. The decision didn’t alter the result but did shift the tone of the match, giving Hibs renewed belief and forcing Celtic to dig deep late on.

‎Roache and Conroy’s call for clearer guidance and improved consistency reflects what many within Scottish football have been demanding. VAR was introduced to reduce controversy, but instead it has generated new grey areas particularly around handball interpretation.

‎Celtic may have left Easter Road with the points, but the debate sparked by this incident is unlikely to fade anytime soon, and pressure on governing bodies to simplify the law continues to mount.

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