The SFA have explained VAR's decision not to disallow Celtic's second goal in their 4-0 hammering of Dundee United for a handball.
Celtic opened the scoring in the Premier Sports Cup last 16 clash at Tannadice thanks to a header from Auston Trusty and doubled their lead two minutes later when Camilo Duran netted after Kasper Hogh was denied at close quarters.
The goal was then subject to a VAR review after replays showed that the ball had struck Hogh's hand before Duran guided the ball home. However, the team at Clydesdale House decided that the incident was not worthy of a penalty kick and instructed on-field referee Steven McLean to allow the goal.
Statement from the SFA
During Premier Sports post-match coverage in Tayside, host Emma Dodds read out a statement from the SFA that declared that by law, the goal was correctly allowed to stand.
The statement read: "The entire incident was checked, including the handball. The ball clearly strikes the hand of the Celtic attacker, however this is not a punishable handball as it is a consequence of his playing action and is completely accidental."
"The laws of the game are clear regarding handball and an immediate goal being scored. The offence only applies when the player who handled the ball is the one who subsequently scores. As another attacker scored, this provision does not apply."
Comparison to Falkirk incident
After the game, Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was left confused as to why VAR did not intervene and chalk off Duran's goal. During the half-time interval, pundit Michael Stewart compared the flash point to an incident in St Mirren's 2-0 away win at Falkirk on week one of the new Premiership season where the Bairns had a goal overturned for a handball.
Former top-flight whistlers Des Roache and Steve Conroy also disagreed with the decision at Tannadice, writing from their Ref's View account on X: "Handball in build up to goal, should be disallowed."
The SFA statement addressed this comparison: "We note that at half time this was compared to the Falkirk disallowed goal from week one (in the Premiership). The VAR deemed that handball to be punishable by law. In our opinion however, these are completely different incidents and should be considered comparable."
Match outcome
Jim Goodwin's men went on to ship two more goals in the second half to Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren as Martin O'Neill's team coasted into the quarter finals of the cup.
