‘Foul on Shanks should have led to a penalty’
Some refereeing and VAR decisions came under scrutiny in Hearts’ match in Dingwall on Saturday, writes Ben Banks.
One pundit believes the incident in which Lawrence Shankland was booked for diving during the Jambos’ defeat to Ross County should have ended with a penalty for the visitors.
The Staggies beat Steven Naismith’s side 2-1 thanks to a double from Simon Murray. Yutaro Oda brought one back for the third-placed Premiership side in second half stoppage time and Stephen Kingsley had a sumptuous free-kick ruled out. Shankland was deemed to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper George Wickens as Kingsley netted.
Controversy struck in the second half when Shankland was booked by referee Grant Irvine for simulation following a challenge by Ryan Leak. Hearts are appealing the decision and Sportscene pundit Jackie McNamara reckons a penalty should have been given.
The former Scotland right-back and Dundee United boss said: “When I looked at it I thought it was soft and that it was harsh to give the yellow card. When you look at it in slow motion, his leg is across. I thought it was a penalty myself when I first seen it. Looking back at it, his knee is across his thigh.”
Former Hearts winger Neil McCann held little sympathy for Shankland in the free-kick incident, however, believing it was correct to say the striker was obstructing the view of Wickens. He added: “Shankland is giving the referee a decision to make by being in that position. I think Wickens is transferring his weight onto his left and he maybe impedes his jump. Kingsley is probably going to find the back of the net anyway. I think he was [impeding the goalkeeper’s eyeline], just.”
Meanwhile, a senior exreferee who played a big part in the implementation of VAR in Scottish football is to step down as Head of Referee Operations at the end of the season. Crawford Allan was in post for four years, guiding refereeing through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell said: “In many ways, overseeing the introduction of VAR has been a thankless task. Crawford has been integral to that process – from feasibility, to training, to roll-out – for much of his tenure and we are grateful that he will remain in place and provide continuity until the end of the season.”