'Ignored by officials' - Ex-PGMOL chief wants rule change after Celtic referee controversy
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(Credit: Imago, Getty) Sun 28 December 2025 7:30, UK The penalty that Celtic received during their 4-2 win over Livingston is evidence that the handball law needs to be changed.That is according to ex-PGMOL chief and former FIFA referee Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that officials “ignored” a nudge from Daizen Maeda in the lead-up to Saturday’s handball incident.Benjamin Nygren netted a double for Celtic as they twice fought back from a goal behind to claim all three points away at the Premiership’s bottom club.Arne Engels put daylight between the two teams with a 40th-minute penalty, but the award of that spot-kick left the hosts feeling a little aggrieved by the decision from referee Matthew McDermid.Credit: ImagoMatthew McDermid made the ‘wrong call’ for Celtic penaltyCeltic’s latest victory eased the pressure on Wilfried Nancy a little after a tumultuous start to his stint in charge at Parkhead.However, the second half of Saturday’s victory could easily have had a totally different complexion, had the penalty incident been viewed differently by McDermid. The ball struck the arm of Daniel Finlayson who had jumped to win a header following a Celtic free-kick, and the moment initially went unpunished by the man in the middle.
MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES He was then called to the pitch-side monitor by VAR referee Nick Walsh and overturned his original decision, despite the defender receiving a nudge from Maeda after he had jumped to win the ball.Hackett feels that this nudge was enough for the decision to have been given the other way.“The player’s arm is extended from the body when it strikes,” the former official exclusively told Football Insider.“These handballs are, of course, subjective and look far worse in slow motion. Frankly, this is the wrong call and the VAR should have stayed out of the decision-making process.
Credit: Imago“For me is that I do not consider this to be a deliberate handball offence.”Wilfried Nancy’s altercation with the fourth officialNancy was pleased with Celtic’s victory at the Set Fare Arena on Saturday, but the boss didn’t make it through the 90 minutes without an eye-catching moment of his own.The 48-year-old raced towards the edge of the pitch during stoppage time in a bid to encourage his team to push forward for a fifth goal, and had to be guided away from the touchline by fourth official Graham Grainger. Nancy has had to endure his fair share of criticism since his arrival, and if he continues to display passion like that, then he will soon win the fans over in the coming months.