Kilmarnock Denied Penalty in Win Over Celtic, Says Dermot Gallagher

In a recent match between Kilmarnock and Celtic, controversial decisions dominated discussions after the former was denied a penalty. Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, has come out in support of the referee’s decision, stating that it was the right call.

The incident occurred during the match when a Kilmarnock player appeared to handle the ball inside the penalty area. However, Gallagher argued that the player was merely breaking his fall and therefore, it could not be considered a handball.

Gallagher’s comments came during an interview with Sky Sports Scotland, where he analyzed the incident in detail. He explained, “From the replays, you can clearly see that the player is using his arm to cushion his fall. It is a natural instinct to protect yourself in such situations, and it is unreasonable to expect the referee to penalize that.”

The decision not to award Kilmarnock a penalty was met with mixed reactions from fans and experts alike. Some believed that it was a clear handball and that the referee had made an error in judgment. Others, however, agreed with Gallagher’s assessment and commended the referee for making the right call.

Kilmarnock went on to win the match, further fueling the debate surrounding the penalty incident. Celtic fans expressed their frustration with the decision and argued that it could have potentially changed the outcome of the game.

Despite the controversy, the referee’s decision has been upheld by the Scottish Football Association (SFA), which reviewed the incident. The SFA stated that it supports the referee’s judgment and does not believe that the player’s actions constituted a deliberate handball.

This incident has once again highlighted the subjective nature of refereeing decisions in football. Handball incidents, in particular, have been a topic of intense debate in recent years, with different interpretations of the rules leading to inconsistent decisions.

In an effort to bring more clarity to such incidents, FIFA introduced new handball rules in 2019. The rules now state that a player will be penalized for handball if their arm or hand makes their body unnaturally bigger or if they gain an unfair advantage from the contact.

However, the interpretation of these rules still leaves room for debate and differing opinions. Referees have to make split-second decisions during matches, often relying on their own judgment and interpretation of the rules.

While controversies like these are inevitable in football, it is essential for fans, players, and pundits to understand and respect the difficult job that referees have. Referees are human and can make mistakes, but their decisions should be accepted and not excessively criticized.

As for Kilmarnock, they can take pride in their victory over Celtic, regardless of the penalty incident. The team put in a strong performance and deserved the three points.

Ultimately, the debate surrounding the penalty incident will continue, but Dermot Gallagher’s support of the referee’s decision carries significant weight. It is a reminder that even experts in the field can have differing opinions, and football will always be a game of opinions.

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“He’s breaking his fall, it can’t be a handball…”

Dermot Gallagher says it was right not to award Kilmarnock a penalty in their win over Celtic pic.twitter.com/34SyxppvPy

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 11, 2023

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@ScotlandSky said "He's breaking his fall, it can't be a handball…" Dermot Gallagher says it was right not to award Kilmarnock a penalty in their win over Celtic

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