January 6, 2025

Celtic’s victory over Hearts went by with little to no controversy over refereeing or VAR decisions for the first time in what seems like an age.

VAR controversy seems to follow Celtic ever since its introduction over two years ago now and, in truth, it’s probably to be expected considering they are the most dominant team in SPFL games.

But in Celtic’s win at Hearts, there was no refereeing controversy as Brendan Rodgers eventually turned a tricky away fixture into a routine victory to go three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

So when James Forrest was brought down inside the Hearts penalty box it’s as straight a penalty call as Celtic fans will see this season, right?

Not according to former Hearts striker, John Robertson.

John Robertson’s baffling Celtic penalty claim vs Hearts dismissed by Martin O’Neill and James McFadden
Robertson, Martin O’Neill and James McFadden were all asked their view on the decision to award the penalty and the former Tynecastle man claimed that ‘it was a coming together’ of the Celtic and Hearts player.

O’Neill told Sky Sports Scotland, “Naturally, I would have been calling it for 10 minutes beforehand. No, he’s got to give it. The referee’s got to give the penalty.

McFadden: “You see the contact of the knee here, it’s a penalty. It’s a penalty to me.

Robertson: “To me, that’s a knee against knee.”

McFadden: “Are you saying that’s allowed?”

Robertson: “It’s a coming together. You saw a worse one earlier that the referee didn’t give.

“But listen, we understand why he’s given it. I go back to the famous Willie Young quote that penalties are like boiled eggs. You get some hard ones, you get some soft ones, but they’re still a penalty.”

O’Neill: “Willie Young the referee? Gosh, Willie. I never thought I would be sitting in the studio talking about Willie. I had nightmares about Willie refereeing our games.

“I did. I once said to him when he did alright, I said, ‘Willie, you’re improving and that was after he had been 15 years in the game at the time.

Robertson: “To me, when you slow it down a little bit, the two knees hit each other and then Forrest makes sure that there’s more contact in it.

“It’s a soft penalty. I understand why he’s given it and if it went to VAR for example, they would have looked at it and said there’s enough there to give a penalty.”

O’Neill: “So if you understand why he’s given it, it’s a penalty then.”

McFadden: “It’s a great effort. It is a great effort to say it’s not a penalty but it is a penalty.”

Celtic’s next five big fixtures could shape the season for Brendan Rodgers
Celtic now have the Champions League to look forward to as Club Brugge come visiting on Wednesday night.

A win in that fixture and any sort of positive result in Dinamo Zagreb will ensure Brendan Rodgers has at least a play-off place to look forward to after the league phase ends in January.

As for the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup, Celtic face Ross County on Saturday whilst Aberdeen travel to Hibs tomorrow night.

Any dropped points by Jimmy Thelin’s side and a Parkhead win means that the 4th of December clash at Pittodrie could effectively end Aberdeen’s challenge to Celtic if the Hoops take all three points back to Glasgow.

A Celtic League Cup final win on the 15th of December would also be another nail in Aberdeen’s season so there is a very real chance that before Christmas, Celtic will be miles ahead of both Rangers and Aberdeen.

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