Liam Scales’ denied penalty being conveniently brushed aside

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·21 marzo 2026

Liam Scales’ denied penalty being conveniently brushed aside

Liam Scales’ denied penalty against Hibs is being conveniently brushed aside as the Scottish mainstream media prefers the Oxlade Chamberlain ‘orange card’ (copyright Willie Collum) narrative…

22.02.2026 Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership. Liam Scales rages at Matthew MacDermid after being fouled at a corner but no penalty given. Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

Willie Collum: “This shows clear holding, clear impact, it’s prolonged there for a bit, it should be a penalty kick.” The SFA Head of Refereeing admits that Celtic were denied a clear penalty in the costly 2-1 defeat to Hibs at Celtic Park last month…

Martin O'Neill's only domestic defeat of the season was at home to Hibs - Celtic were denied a stonewall penalty because Scottish referees don't know what they're doing.
– venerdì 20 marzo 2026

VAR has come under some heavy scrutiny once again, with Willie Collum’s latest in-depth review being met with a backlash from disgruntled supporters.

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There were plenty of talking points once again, with our own club adjudged to have been on the receiving end of a very dubious decision, one that could still prove vital in the outcome of the title.

VAR in Scotland is a joke if the VAR official clearly states "clear hold" only for his 'assistant' to say "nah, not enough for me".. VAR in Scotland is largely ran by rangers supporting officials with an agenda. The game under the @ScottishFA is ROTTEN to the core.
– venerdì 20 marzo 2026

The incident in question was the one that seen Liam Scales illegally impeded in the penalty area in our recent home clash with Hibs, but despite everyone in the ground knowing it was an infringement, the on field official and his colleagues on VAR bizarrely waved away the claim, a claim that Willie Collum has now admitted was worthy of punishment, but as ever it’s all too late.

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An incident that happened at a vital point in the game, with the score poised at 1-1, we were wrongly denied the chance to take the lead, a chance that could well have won us the game, in a season when the title is to close to call.

Considering we sit just two points behind leaders Hearts, being denied that chance to win the game can prove to be very damaging in our title aspirations.

Despite the controversy over such a wrong call, it’s hardly been documented on the Scottish mainstream media, with all the outlets leading on a possible red card offence committed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in our recent win over Motherwell.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Ibrox. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Anyone with any knowledge of the game will know that the ex England international’s over zealous challenge was only worthy of the caution it received in real time. But such is the fake cry of conspiracy coming out of Ibrox, the SMSM have pandered to the paranoid bears and ran with that incident as the main talking point from Collum’s Friday night confession via Sky Sports.

14.03.2026 Celtic v Motherwell, Scottish Premiership. John Beaton awards a penalty to Celtic after VAR check Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO.

Incidentally it came about in a game that John Beaton also missed a clear cut penalty kick in real time despite having a clear view of the incident, and was only forced into taking action after VAR intervened. And there was another strong penalty claim in that game when Tomas Cvancara was brought down at the very edge of the penalty area.

We were severely wronged in a vital game, not that you would know so due to the Scottish media conveniently brushing it aside as they bid to fuel an Ibrox led conspiracy.

A club open to all*

Celtic CEO Micheal Nicholson looks on during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park on March 14, 2026 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Meanwhile our own club’s pathetic ban on the Celtic fan media continues and just like the ban on the Green Brigade that won’t be getting lifted anytime soon.

*Except Green Brigade, Celtic Fan Media and probably Bhoys Celtic next…

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