Liam Scales admits that the ball struck his arm during the contentious incident at Celtic Park, but he explains why he believes referee Colin Steven made the correct call.

Hearts’ 2-0 defeat to Celtic in Glasgow on Saturday was marred by controversy, with VAR interfering to deny the Jambos a penalty kick before giving one to the hosts.

Referee Colin Steven first directed to the spot after Liam Scales looked to handle the ball in the box, but VAR intervened, and the decision was overruled. While the ball certainly impacted the Republic of Ireland international’s arm, it appeared to be over the ‘t-shirt line’, which would not be ruled a hand ball under the rules.

 

Speaking after the game, Scales conceded that the ball did contact his arm but was delighted that the referees were able to make what he feels was the proper call. He explained, “I knew it hit me in the arm, but I thought it was severe.

“It was really near to me. I am delighted they overruled it. I believe the referee took into account how near the header was to me.

The factor of the distance between the player when the ball struck his arm irritated Jambos head coach Steven Naismith the most, as he believed that if the Scales incident was not a penalty kick, James Penrice’s handball later in the match, for which the Hoops were awarded a penalty, fell under the same rule criteria.

 

According to him, the gap between players does not constitute a punishment under the criteria. But I also don’t believe theirs is a punishment. Opinions vary. With the photographs we saw before the season, it all comes down to distance. It smashes his arm, but there’s nothing he (Penrice) can do. The move is the same as the one we saw throughout the preseason. So I disagree, and that’s a key point in the game.”

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