Malky Mackay claims referee felt Ross County had 'stone wall penalty' but didn't give it after overturning decision in VAR review
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ROSS County manager Malky Mackay claims referee Euan Anderson said the Staggies should have had a 'stone wall penalty', but overturned his decision after a VAR review.
The Staggies boss feels referees are no longer controlling football in Scotland, saying VAR are now the ones who are calling the shots.
Kevin Van Veen's 101st minute penalty decided the outcome in a game which had 12 minutes of injury time.
However, Ross County had a penalty decision overturned in the first half, after the referee originally ruled Connor Randall was fouled by Calum Butcher in the box.
But VAR asked Henderson to review the decision, which after watching the footage on the monitor, saw him change his mind.
Mackay says after speaking to the referee, he claimed Henderson told him that he thought it was a 'stone wall penalty'.
He said: "There is a challenge and i've not seen enough to see if it is a clear penalty," said Mackay at the after match press conference.
"The referee says it was a stone wall penalty, that 's the word he used as I asked him."
After the incident took place, Mackay says the referee did not allow enough advantage to continue, as Ross County were still in possession of the ball and blew his whistle before it fell to George Harmon to shoot.
Mackay says after not giving the penalty immediately, he should have allowed Ross County to play advantage.
"My bug bear is he makes a genuine error not letting the move run out because he blows the whistle before it gets to George Harmon.
"He needs to let the play run out and the move happen.
"If there are quotes on rules with VAR they have to be adhered to, he made an error and admitted it because he said it was a stone wall penalty."
Mackay feels that VAR is now controlling matches in Scotland and not the referees on the pitch themselves.
He says it is an issue for managers and something which needs to be looked at.
"VAR is refereeing football in Scotland and not referees. I have said it a couple of times, most managers I speak to can't believe where the bar is being set.
"I hope it will be looked at by the Scottish FA, it's their reputation, the referees' reputations that are judged on the spot every week.
"Common sense seems to have gone from the situation as far as I am concerned."
