Celtic’s dramatic draw with Aberdeen had it all. Brendan Rodgers’ men squandered a 2-0 lead, collapsing in the second half and conceding careless goals as the Dons mounted a spirited comeback to snatch a point.
It was a frustrating outcome for Celtic, especially after Reo Hatate and Kyogo had secured a comfortable lead before halftime. The closing stages of the match became chaotic, with Celtic seeing a potential third goal disallowed due to a handball, following a VAR review.
The match turned chaotic when Duk appeared to handle the ball on the line in the dying moments of the 10 minutes of added time, prompting Celtic players to call for a penalty and a chance to secure the win. However, referee Nick Walsh dismissed their appeals, and the final whistle soon followed.
Footage of the incident was unclear, but it was reported that the ball struck Duk’s thigh before hitting his midriff, rather than his arm. Former Scottish FA referee Bobby Madden has weighed in on the situation, providing his perspective on the contentious moment.
Celtic believed they were denied a penalty for a handball by Duk, and former referee Bobby Madden addressed the situation on his Instagram. He stated, “We need to clear up a couple of things regarding the penalty claim in the 12th minute of the MINIMUM 10 minutes of additional time.
“It’s clear from the evidence that the ball does not strike the hand of the Aberdeen defender. The ball strikes his thigh and then his body. That is a fact. However, this incident does need to be checked by VAR, and it has been.”
Madden also clarified the reasoning behind the whistle being blown before a corner kick was taken, a decision that frustrated many fans. He explained that the referee’s call was made to ensure proper protocol and safety, emphasizing that such actions are intended to maintain order during set pieces and prevent any potential disruptions. This ruling added to the growing dissatisfaction among supporters following the controversial moments in the match.
Bobby Madden addressed the situation further, saying, “Could you imagine if you blow for full time and then say, ‘Oh wait, we have an on-field review’? It would be carnage. That’s why the protocol is in place to manage these situations, as was the case yesterday. The game was delayed for close to a minute while the check was completed. Once it was finished and no penalty was confirmed, the full-time whistle was blown.
“Then you have people complaining that the corner wasn’t allowed. We all know that when the time is up, the time is up, and the game is over—just like in the recent Scotland v Portugal match.”
Madden continued, addressing some of the criticism, stating, “Then you have the mentalists saying that even if a penalty was awarded, the referee wouldn’t have allowed it to be taken. That’s nonsense. Law 7.4 clearly states that a half can be extended for a penalty to be taken or retaken in such circumstances.”