In an exciting Auld Firm game last night Carlos Cuellar's right hand almost brought Rangers the SPL title.
A shot from Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura looked destined for the top left hand corner but the Rangers defender dived to his right and tipped the ball over the bar.
The result, a penalty for Celtic and a deserved red card for Cuellar. Scott McDonald was the chosen player to take the penalty which injured keeper Allan McGregor saved.
The question has to be asked, was justice done.
Rangers lost a player, Celtic weren't awarded the goal and the resulting penalty missed so both teams were punished, is this fair?
To me this rule needs to be changed. Last nights game showed that sometimes cheaters prosper but what should be done?
The answer to me is quite simple. If a shot looks goal bound and is handled the referee should reward a penalty goal that way the attacking team get the goal they deserve, and for the defender, a yellow card just so they don't get away with their actions.
If Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink hadn't scored a 93rd minute winner the Scottish title would be all but over and the trophy Ibrox bound, instead the teams play at Parkhead again on the 27th with the league still wide open.
In an action packed derby last night it was a case of nothing but a win for Celtic and in the 20th minute Nakmura (not having the best of seasons) put the Hoops ahead with a 30 yard pile driver that swerved this way and that and gave Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor no chance.
Celtic had all the possession but just couldn't get that second goal and this meant that Rangers were still in touching distance and in the 10th minute of the second half Gers sub Nacho Novo silenced the Parkhead faithful with a goal to bring the teams level.
The amount of games Rangers are having to play looked like it was taking its toll on the players and they looked weary but were still holding on and looked like they got their point after Scott McDonald missed his penalty.
Celtics players looked doomed to failure that was until in the third minute of injury time , Dutch hitman Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed in from close range to steal the points and sent the Celtic fans into delirium.
The gap at the top is now one point although Rangers have two games in hand.
The next Auld Firm derby is another must win and Celtic will be hoping Rangers slip up if they are to win their third successive title. If that game is anything like last nights, it can't come quick enough.
8 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Andrew McNair about 1 year ago
I obviously feel otherwise. If Scott McDonald can't beat a one legged keeper then that's Celtic's problem not justice.
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Jamie Mason about 1 year ago
True Andrew but the point was more the fact a Rangers player had cheated by clearing the ball with his hand so Celtic were punished twice. If a penalty goal was awarded and a yellow card handed out Celtic would've got the goal and Ceullar would've stayed on the pitch.
It was a bad miss though!!!
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Andrew McNair about 1 year ago
I understand. I just ain't over tha game yet :P
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Salomon Gonzales about 1 year ago
lol Andrew - dont worry about it. Rangers have more or less bagged the title in my opinion. Thats of course if you dont lose AGAIN in the old firm coming up....
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Shawn Sieiro about 1 year ago
WHAT A SAVE BY THE ...... defender?
When I clicked into this article I saw the picture and my first thought was "Oh my what a great save...why isn't he wearing gloves....wait whats happening!"
Then it clicked in.
These handball calls are borderline calls but when it comes to something this blatant I think have the solution:
The offending player gets a red card and is sent to the showers. The team that had the goal robbed should be awarded the goal. Why bother chancing it with a penalty kick, the team deserved a goal...so give it to them. If the ball was obviously going into the net, why take it away from them! The defender at fault is also suspended for 3 games. This will deter further instances.
Of course, what everyone fails to mention is the fact that soccer is an emotional sport and when a game is on the line, a player will do anything to 'save the game'...lots of pun intended.
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Shawn Sieiro about 1 year ago
And then you have unfortunate events like these:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=goSnvCpG6aQ
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Matt S about 1 year ago
Handball on the line should always be punished by a red card in my opinion. As should any cynical challenge in the box which denies a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
I like the rule as it exists at the moment as it offers the attacking team the opportunity to punish the offending team twice. Once because the team goes a man down and twice because they then have the chance to score a goal anyway, and the vast majority of penalties are scored. Sometimes, like in this match however they are not – and this is the risk that the player takes. Although whether most offenders actually have time to think their actions through is highly debatable, I believe 99% of cases are pure instinct.
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Josh Smith about 1 year ago
I used to think that this rule needed changing, but after thinking long and hard about it, I think it's fine the way it is. The rules used to say that denying an obvious goal or goal-scoring opportunity was a yellow card, but it was happening too often and so the IFAB upped it to a red card offense. I think it should always be a red card as a yellow essentially says "that was bad, and it you do it again you're off" whereas the message should be "you don't get to do that twice in a game".
As for awarding a goal automatically, that will never happen. A goal can't be awarded if the ball doesn't cross the line under the crossbar and between the posts, full stop. Take this Rangers game as an example: yes, the ball was well-struck and headed for the net, but an opponent committed an action that stopped the ball from crossing the line. No goal. However, the action was illegal, and handball is a penal offense, so it's a penalty. Since he denied an obvious goal by an offense punishable by a free kick, it's a red card. The bottom line is football can never go down the road where the referee can award goals without the ball going into the net.
As the rule stands now, if the foul is in the penalty area, if the offended team scores the penalty they get the goal they deserve, and the defending team is punished for denying the original goal. If they miss the penalty... well, there's no better way to get a goal, is there?!
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