Why Hearts denied of a penalty against Celtic as VAR intervention explained

The Jambos were outraged to see the spot kick taken away from them.

Hearts believed they had a chance to open the scoring from the spot at Celtic Park, but were enraged when the kick was taken away from them.

After weathering the storm early in the game, the Jambos began to grow as an attacking force later in the first half, getting balls into the box. Referee Colin Steven pointed to the spot after Lawrence Shankland got his head to it and found it blocked by Liam Scales’ arm.

However, following a VAR review, the referee changed his decision, and Steven Naismith’s team was denied a penalty kick. They were furious, and maroon shirts surrounded Steven to chastise him, but their efforts were futile because the decision had already been made.

This is never a penalty but when you consider that penalty hearts got for nothing after VAR check last season at Tynecastle it makes the blood boil. pic.twitter.com/elhNXi3Ym9

— Michael Celtic (@MichaelCeltic18) September 14, 2024

There was some confusion about the reasoning behind it, with BBC Scotland radio commentary questioning whether the ball had come off Shankland’s arm first. Replays revealed that this was not the case, and commentator Liam McLeod provided the answers at halftime.

He explained:(BBC Sportsound), “The referee initially thought the defender’s arm was outstretched and the ball had travelled far enough to deem it a handball. Once it was reviwed it was deemed the arm was in a normal position, it didn’t travel far enough and it it hits the arm too high to be a handball. So that is why Colin Steven’s initial decision to give Hearts a penalty was overturned.”

Pundit Michael Stewart agreed with the call. When asked if the correct outcome was reached, he replied, “Yeah. Obviously hearing Liam’s explanations there is good to hear because it rings true with what we saw and what we thought, so it’s good to see referees are recognising that. I think it was the correct call.”