A fiery Chris Sutton was left seething and utterly dumbfounded by the perplexing decision not to award Celtic a penalty in their commanding 4-0 triumph over Kilmarnock. In a crucial moment late in the second half, Kyogo found himself on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie after latching onto a well-placed ball inside the penalty area from Matt O’Riley’s free kick. The Japanese striker was sent crashing to the ground, with the ball subsequently trickling out of play, leaving both Kyogo and the Celtic faithful expecting a clear-cut penalty decision.
However, much to their astonishment, the on-field referee, Don Robertson, opted against pointing to the spot, while the VAR team, spearheaded by Greg Aitken, chose not to intervene or overturn the call. There was a suggestion that Kyogo had been in an offside position when the ball was played, but replays suggested that this was a marginal decision, with Sky Sports confirming that offside had been ruled out before the penalty incident was scrutinized.
A visibly irate Sutton, who was left shaking his head in disbelief, expressed his frustration with the officiating as he vented his dismay, saying, “That’s absolutely ridiculous. I am baffled, completely and utterly speechless. If he was onside, as it appears, then that should unequivocally have been a penalty. How on earth has the penalty not been awarded there? McCrorie clearly knows he didn’t make contact, so it’s simply incomprehensible.” The decision not to award the penalty left a bitter taste in the mouths of Celtic supporters and players alike, with the episode adding to the ongoing debate surrounding the implementation and consistency of VAR in football.
