Liam Scales was described as a “lucky boy” by Neil Lennon after giving away a free-kick on the edge of the area in Celtic’s win over Rangers this afternoon.
However, for former referee Bobby Madden it was more than that as he declared that the Light Blues should have had a “100 percent penalty” instead of the set-piece they were awarded.
Scales had come off the bench to replace Auston Trusty to end Celtic’s “clumsy” build-up play.
But the Irishman found himself in a right old mess in extra-time with the scoreline at 3-3 in today’s pulsating Premier Sports Cup Final at Hampden Park.
Scales gave the ball away just outside the Celtic area to Vaclav Cerny before tugging at the Czech’s jersey and hauling the attacker down.
Whistler John Beaton blew for a foul and pointed to where the infringement had started which was outside the box.
Though Madden, taking to his social media channels as he so often does, insisted it should have been a penalty as the holding carried on into the box – or just on the line – and he reckons it was a definite spot-kick.
Bobby Madden claims Rangers should have had a penalty for Liam Scales’ foul on Vaclav Cerny
It is unclear whether VAR took a good look at the incident or not as was debated on Premier Sports by the pundits. Needless to say, Alan Hutton and Scott Arfield both felt it was a penalty. Colour us surprised!
But Madden has now weighed in on the situation and had his say as he was adamant VAR should have intervened and corrected a mistake by Beaton.
“This is (100 percent) a penalty kick,” Madden wrote on his Instagram page accompanied with a still-image of the pull.
Daizen Maeda and Kasper Schmeichel were the penalty shootout heroes
“It doesn’t matter when the holding started, when it ended or what direction the players are moving. This is clear evidence of holding within the penalty area and I’m amazed this hasn’t been identified by VAR.
“Referee team had been excellent until that point.
“Difficult live, but that’s why VAR is there.”
We told you how Chris Sutton brutally mocked Rangers at full-time for a ‘moral victory’ despite their defeat.
