Hibernian midfielder Joe Newell has spoken candidly about the controversial goal he scored against Celtic during Hibs’ 2-1 defeat last weekend.
The equaliser became a major talking point after a prolonged VAR review concluded that there was not enough evidence to rule the effort out, despite television replays appearing to show the ball striking Newell’s arm. Celtic eventually responded courtesy of Kelechi Iheanacho to claim a 2-1 victory.
An explanation from SFA later explained that the original on-field decision could not be overturned due to the lack of conclusive proof, although debate surrounding the incident continued long after the final whistle.
Newell ‘wasn’t sure’ if ball struck his arm
Attention also turned to Newell’s immediate reaction after the goal, with some suggesting the Hibs captain’s response hinted at uncertainty over whether the strike should have counted.
Speaking post-match, the midfielder offered an honest assessment of the moment and admitted via Hibernian TV: “I’ve not seen it back… I did honestly feel like it was kind of in between my hip and my arm.
“Whether it touched it or not, I wasn’t sure – and you just know nowadays that it’s going to get checked, so it kind of kills the emotion behind it.
“And then obviously it did get checked and because it took so long, I was quite surprised when it did go in our way. But yeah, who knows the rules? I don’t even know anymore, so who knows?
“On a personal level, it was a great moment. It was my second start of the season and we’re in May already.
“I’ve had a tough time, but I love playing for this football club, so any chance I get, like I say, I love it. So it was obviously nice.”
VAR controversy will not go away
Few clubs can claim to have avoided controversy surrounding VAR decisions this season, and Celtic have repeatedly found themselves on the wrong end of key calls.
Earlier in the campaign at Easter Road, a contentious penalty awarded to Hibernian for a handball against Liam Scales left many questioning the interpretation of the incident.
European competition also brought frustration for the Scottish champions after Kelechi Iheanacho saw a goal ruled out against Braga in a decision that sparked widespread confusion regarding why it was disallowed.
The latest dispute has only added to that sense of grievance, particularly given the significance of the fixture in the race for the title, where every point carries major importance.
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1 Comment
Anyone who’s ever played the game knows he’s not being honest there. If a ball hits your hand, or on his case, if you controlled the ball with your arm then you know!
But again, anyone who’s played the game also knows we were all taught to play to the whistle! He was right to follow through and take his shot.
He was also right to take his goal when the ref gave it, whether everyone in the world knew it was a corrupt decision or not!
Let’s face it, the player isn’t going to tell the ref, “you can’t allow that ref, I handled it”.
My only disappointment in the player was his half-hearted attempt to convince the ref it hit his body. But EVERY camera proved otherwise. EXCEPT that is, the one the SFA decided to use. Maybe someone with an iPhone at the opposite end of the ground sent a clip to the VAR team that couldn’t see it clearly enough!