“Rangers, the biggest cheat in SPFL….” – SFA Panel RULES This Penalty Claim Against Rangers was Incorrectly Denied…

SFA Panel Rules Hearts Penalty Claim Against Rangers Was “Incorrectly” Denied

A Scottish Football Association (SFA) panel has concluded that Hearts were wrongly denied a penalty kick during their 3-1 defeat to Rangers at Tynecastle on Sunday. The Key Match Incident (KMI) panel reviewed the incident and determined that referee John Beaton made an incorrect decision in not awarding a penalty.

The controversy arose in the 60th minute of the match when Hearts striker James Wilson went down in the box under a challenge from Rangers defender Clinton Nsiala. Beaton waved away the penalty claims, but the KMI panel has now ruled that the decision was incorrect.

According to the report, the panel “discussed this decision at length with the majority (3:2) deeming the onfield decision incorrect. The majority (3:2) believed that VAR should have intervened and recommended an onfield review (OFR) for a possible penalty kick.”

The incident was a pivotal moment in the match, as Rangers took the lead almost immediately afterwards, with Valcav Cerny scoring the goal that put the visitors 2-1 ahead. The KMI panel’s ruling suggests that the outcome of the match could have been different if the penalty had been awarded.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson was vocal in his criticism of the referee’s decision after the match, stating that he believed a penalty should have been awarded. Rangers manager Michael Beale, on the other hand, disagreed, saying that he did not think it was a penalty.

The KMI panel’s decision is not binding, but it provides clarity on the incident and highlights the importance of accurate decision-making in high-pressure situations.

In addition to the Hearts-Rangers incident, the KMI panel reviewed five other incidents from Premiership matches over the weekend of February 15 and 16. The panel unanimously agreed that there was no foul in the build-up to Celtic’s third goal in their 3-0 win over Dundee United, and that referee Ross Hardie’s decision to overturn a penalty awarded to Hibs for a handball against St Mirren defender Killian Phillips was correct.

The panel also ruled that there was no foul in the build-up to Kevin Nisbet’s opening goal for Aberdeen in their 2-1 win over Dundee, and that a home penalty claim for a handball against Shayden Morris in the second half of the same match was incorrectly denied.

The SFA’s KMI panel plays a crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability in Scottish football. By reviewing key incidents and providing clarity on the decisions made, the panel helps to maintain the integrity of the game and ensures that accurate decision-making is paramount.