Celtic missed out on a penalty when Ben Davies unintentionally handled the ball in the Rangers box at Hampden, as deemed a natural movement by the defender. Despite this explanation, the debate continued among pundits, with Scott Brown expressing his belief that the penalty should have been awarded. The first half of the Scottish Cup Final ended goalless, with both goalkeepers having relatively quiet moments. The most significant incident occurred when Kyogo’s header struck Davies’ arm after meeting Greg Taylor’s cross, prompting vocal appeals for a penalty from the Celtic fans. VAR was in play, raising hope for a potential penalty decision, but the match officials stood firm in their decision not to award one.
On various TV coverage platforms, experts provided differing opinions on the incident. Some believed Davies’ arm was in a natural position and therefore the correct decision was made, while others argued that it should have been a penalty based on recent trends in football. Former players like Charlie Mulgrew, Steven Davis, Neil Lennon, and even the rival Brown were divided in their views, reflecting the subjective nature of such decisions in football. Despite the disappointment for Celtic, the officials’ verdict stood, ensuring a fair and controversial-free game.
