Celtic’s win over Rangers has created a lot of discussion points that we are set to cover today.
One that has already been hotly debated was the decision by Willie Collum to award Celtic a penalty after a foul by Mohamed Diomande on Matt O’Riley.
The Hoops midfielder was set to unleash a shot when he was fouled from behind by Diomande and Collum had no doubt that a penalty should be awarded.
Even after being urged to check his decision by VAR, the whistler, correctly, stuck by his original decision to award the spot kick.
Matt O’Riley accused of diving
One of the first discussion points down south between Chris Sutton and Robbie Savage was that penalty and Savage levied an accusation towards O’Riley that the former Celtic hero could not believe.
Savage said [BBC 606], “You know what? You’re a huge advocate on the Simulation Game, you know your commentary today when the Celtic player went over in the box, you know, you’re screaming for the penalty in your commentary, it’s never [a penalty].
“It’s Simulation Game surely, tomorrow.”
Sutton wasn’t having any of that and replied, “Matt O’Riley, so Willie Collum awarded the penalty, he was then sent to the monitor, had a look on the monitor and stuck with his original decision.
“You’re better than that.”
How Savage can claim a dive when footage clearly shows Diomande making contact with O’Riley’s leg as he was about to pull the trigger is beyond me.
It was as clear cut a penalty as you are ever likely to see and for Collum to stick to his decision even after having another opportunity to watch it again makes Savage’s comments even more bizarre.
Now that Celtic are six points clear at the top of the table, a point at Kilmarnock on Wednesaday night will be enough to officially crown Brendan Rodgers’ side champions for the third season in a row.