Sky Sports pundit Jay Bothroyd believes Joe Newell should have been penalised for handball in the build-up to his goal against Celtic at the weekend…
The controversy unfolded at Easter Road when the ball clearly made contact with Newell’s arm before he slotted home an equaliser for David Gray’s side. Celtic ultimately went on to win the game, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the decisive goal.
Despite angles showing the ball struck Newell’s arm, the goal was allowed to stand following a lengthy VAR review, leaving Celtic players and Newell himself shocked that the goal was allowed to stand.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Bothroyd suggested that similar incidents have been ruled differently in the past in the Scottish Premiership this season and questioned whether the interpretation of handball has become more relaxed.
Bothroyd said: “In the Scottish Premiership, they have been very consistent with the handballs. But recently I feel as if decisions like this – that have been handballs – show the threshold has moved a bit. They don’t seem to be as strict.”
“But I look at that and say it’s hit his arm high, then it has hit his wrist, the ball drops into his path really nicely and he’s scored from it. I don’t understand how they can give that. I don’t know what they’re looking at because it’s hit his hand on a few occasions and he’s scored from it.”
“You can see it hits his wrist. He’s scored from it so it can’t be a goal. I’m sure about that, I’m sure it’s hit his wrist. When you’re on the pitch it’s all happening quickly. You might not see that, but we’re privy to this. I’m looking at that and can see it hit his wrist for. It shouldn’t be a goal.”
However, Dermot Gallagher appeared to have a different opinion. The former referee said: “I actually don’t think that’s as conclusive as you think. And the reason is if you look at Liam Scales – Celtic No. 5 – he’s got the best view of that and his first priority is to get back and he even considers trying to handle the ball.”
“He thinks ‘shall I/shan’t I’ on the line because he’s still convinced. It’s a tough call and in cases like that are we 100 per cent sure? Watch Liam Scales, he’s got the best view, and he considers handling the ball and he lets it go.”
🗣️ “That shouldn’t be a goal”
Jay Bothroyd believes Joe Newell’s goal for Hibernian should not have stood against Celtic. pic.twitter.com/iK7ihwRxCt
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 4, 2026
Conor Spence
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2 Comments
Has Dermot Gallagher been on those magic mushrooms,dear oh dear.
The clown can’t make a decision on what you can clearly see, but does make a decision on what he thinks Scales nearly did! He practically never comes down on Celtics side of the argument but that is the biggest pile of horse cack yet.