Home   Sport   Article

Hearts were wrongly denied a penalty against Ross County according to Scottish FA Key Match Incidents Panel Outcome





The Scottish Football Association say Hearts were wrongly denied a penalty against Ross County after a VAR review in their Scottish Premiership clash on Sunday.

Ross County's Josh Nisbet scores his late goal against Hearts. Picture: Ken Macpherson.
Ross County's Josh Nisbet scores his late goal against Hearts. Picture: Ken Macpherson.

Ross County fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against the Jam Tarts at the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall.

But the SFA Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel reviewed footage of Michee Efete’s foul on James Penrice in the 52nd minute when Hearts were leading 2-0.

Referee Ross Hardie originally awarded a penalty to Hearts saying the foul took place inside the box.

However, after Hardie was called to the touchline for a VAR review, he changed his mind saying that the foul took place outside of the penalty box, but it did not continue inside the penalty area.

But four of the five analysts on the KMI panel said the referee’s original decision should have stood as another foul took place in the penalty area. But one analyst felt the referee was correct to change his mind and not give a penalty.

In the Key Match Incident Review Panel Outcomes available on the Scottish FA website, the panel explained their reasoning.

It read: “The panel discussed this decision at length.

“The majority (4:1) agreed with the initial onfield decision. The four panellists agreed an initial foul had occurred outside of the penalty area, however they believed there was a further foul committed inside the penalty area and the original decision should have stood.

“One panel member agreed with the VAR intervention as the initial foul was outside the penalty area and in their opinion nothing punishable took place after this.”

Hearts went 2-0 up as James Wilson scored twice, his first in the second minute and doubled their advantage in the 48th minute.

The Edinburgh outfit looked like holding on for victory in injury time. But in the 97th minute Josh Nisbet pulled one back for the Staggies before Jordan White equalised in the 99th minute.

The draw meant Ross County stayed out of the relegation zone in 10th place on 19 points with Hearts in 11th on 17 points. St Johnstone remain bottom on 14 points.

Read the review of SFA Key Match Incidents Panel from the game here.

Read: Ross County manager Don Cowie hoping to hit the ground running with transfers when the window opens at the start of January.

Read: Ross County manager Don Cowie admits Staggies were lucky to steal point from Hearts in Dingwall.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More