Aberdeen defender Tommie Hoban has questioned the handball rule after the Dons’ 1-0 defeat to Celtic on Wednesday night.
A David Turnbull strike in the first half sealed a 1-0 victory for Celtic but Hoban wasn’t happy with a potential penalty incident. He was deemed to have handled the ball on the edge of his box as Celtic won a free kick, but up the other end, Stephen Welsh wasn’t penalised after an alleged handball in the box.
Aberdeen defender Hoban was frustrated against Celtic. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
It’s left Hoban confused: “Over the 90 minutes, there was nothing much in it. They started well and unfortunately they got the goal at that point which made it difficult for us. But I thought we responded well and played some very good stuff, especially in the second half.
“We can take a lot of confidence from the game into Kilmarnock on Saturday and then when we go back to Celtic Park in ten days time. The handball rule is difficult. There was one given against me in the second half which was the same as the penalty that we weren’t given.
“But when it is outside the box, maybe it’s easier to give it, there’s less pressure on it. The rule at the moment seems to be if it hits the hand, it’s a foul, so I don’t understand why we didn’t get the penalty. I’m not a fan of the rule.
Not a fan. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
“I think it’s very harsh when you’re defending if the ball ricochets off and hits you, but if that’s the rule then it has to be consistent. That’s all we are looking for as players and managers, so you get the same decision every week.”
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