Former FIFA referee Mark Clattenburg has delivered his verdict on a possible penalty Celtic could have had against Rangers in their 2-2 draw at Ibrox. The incident involved Sebastian Tounekti and Nasser Djiga, with Tounekti’s shirt being pulled by Djiga inside the penalty area.
Clattenburg was clear that a penalty would have been harsh had it been awarded to Celtic. He told 67 Hail Hail, “Celtic wanted a penalty when Sebastian Tounekti had his shirt pulled inside the penalty area. I would have been surprised if this was given as a penalty as the shirt pull did not impede his progress and both players were fighting for the ball.”
Clattenburg’s comments have sparked debate, with some arguing that Tounekti was being severely hampered from winning the ball fairly. However, the former referee was adamant that the shirt pull wasn’t enough to warrant a penalty.
On the other hand, Clattenburg was clear that the actual penalty awarded to Celtic was the correct call. Dujon Sterling had prevented Daizen Maeda’s header from hitting the back of the Rangers net, and Clattenburg explained, “The ball was going into the goal from an accidental handball, and therefore a penalty must be awarded and a yellow card. The law is clear from 2024: ‘If a defender commits a handball that prevents a goal, but the handball was accidental or not a deliberate action to stop the ball’, it is a penalty and a yellow card, not a red card.”
Clattenburg’s comments highlight the complexity of refereeing decisions in football. While some may argue that Celtic were unlucky not to get a penalty, Clattenburg’s expert opinion suggests that the decision was correct.