Tony Gale stunned by decision not to award Celtic a penalty
Monday 20 April 2015 12:29, UK
Tony Gale has labelled the decision not to award Celtic a penalty in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final as 'incredible'.
Speaking to The Morning View on Sky Sports News HQ, the former West Ham and Blackburn defender questioned the value of the officials behind the goal after they missed a clear handball in Inverness Caledonian Thistle's extra-time victory.
With Celtic leading 1-0 through an 18th-minute Virgil van Dijk free-kick, striker Leigh Griffiths saw his goalbound header cleared off the line by Inverness defender Josh Meekings shortly before half time.
A number of disbelieving Celtic players surrounded referee Steve McLean demanding to know why a penalty was not awarded, and a subsquent red card administered, but he waved away their protests.
After the match Meekings admitted he fully expected to be sent off for his last-gasp intervention.
Celtic's sense of injustice was exacerbated shortly after the break when goalkeeper Craig Gordon was dismissed for bringing down Marley Watkins and Greg Tansey levelled the scores from the resulting spot kick.
Turning point
The red card changed the game and Edward Ofere fired Inverness ahead in the first half of extra time before Celtic drew level from another free kick by John Guidetti.
However, David Raven's well-taken strike three minutes from the end secured Inverness their first Scottish Cup final appearance against Peter Houston's Falkirk, back at Hampden on Saturday, May 30.
But Gale had no doubt as to the game's turning point, saying: "What the fella is doing behind the goal you don't know. He's looking at it. It's a penalty.
"I've been doing a lot of Champions League commentary this season and those officials have come into play and made some really important decisions, but I don't know what was happening there. It was incredible.
"But good luck to Inverness Caledonian Thistle. It's bought them a final, although Celtic will be gutted about it."
And fellow Morning View guest Stuart Pearce joined Gale in questioning the merits of having officials behind the goals.
"The incredible thing is there are five officials... one of them must see it," said the former Nottingham Forest boss.
"The fella who is close to it - the fifth or sixth official behind the goal - I can understand why he might not have seen it as the player's body is in line with it, but the referee and the fourth official, someone must see that."
