The Scottish FA Key Match Incident panel has acknowledged that Hearts should have been awarded a penalty in the draw with Motherwell earlier this month. Derek McInnes was left incensed after Alexandros Kyziridis went down in the area following a challenge from Tawanda Maswanhise.
Kyziridis appeared to be caught on the foot by the Motherwell forward and referee Steven McLean was directed to the monitor to examine the incident by Greg Aitken in the VAR room. But the official maintained his initial decision, and the KMI team believes the man in the middle should have awarded a crucial spot kick after reviewing the flashpoint in the match that ended 1-1.
The verdict read: “The majority (2:1) of the panel deemed the on-field decision of no penalty to be incorrect. Two panel members felt VAR was correct to intervene, while one panel member felt the on-field decision was correct.
“The majority (2:1) of the panel deemed the final decision outcome as incorrect as they felt the referee should have awarded a penalty after being sent to the monitor.”
In the same match, Steelmen star Emmanuel Longelo appeared to handle the ball in the penalty area. However, the panel states it was the right call to avoid penalising the left-back for the incident in the same fixture.
Celtic and Rangers have also been informed that the decision to keep Alistair Johnston on the pitch at Parkhead was the right call.
The Hoops defender found himself at the heart of the derby day controversy following a fierce challenge on Mikey Moore that prompted referee Nick Walsh to show the right-back a yellow card – while some pundits believed VAR ought to have escalated the offence to a red card.
Even Johnston concedes he was fortunate to avoid a red card; however, the panel “unanimously supported” the decision to caution the Canadian international.