Latest news with #AntonioPortales
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
County penalty against Dundee 'should have been overturned'
Ross County should not have been awarded a stoppage-time penalty in their 14 May draw away to Dundee, the Scottish FA's key match incidents panel has ruled. Ronan Hale equalised and the result meant the battle between the two sides to avoid second bottom spot and a play-off to remain in the Scottish Premiership went to the final day of the season. Home defender Antonio Portales was penalised for a handball, but the KMI panel decided by a majority of four to one that VAR should have intervened to recommend to referee Walsh that he should cancel the award. However, one member of the panel highlighted that they thought it was a punishable handball and the penalty award was correct. Despite the reprieve at Dens Park, County finished second bottom and go into Monday's second leg at home to Championship runners-up Livingston with the tie level at 1-1.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
County penalty against Dundee 'should have been overturned'
Ross County should not have been awarded a stoppage-time penalty in their 14 May draw away to Dundee, the Scottish FA's key match incidents panel has Hale equalised and the result meant the battle between the two sides to avoid second bottom spot and a play-off to remain in the Scottish Premiership went to the final day of the defender Antonio Portales was penalised for a handball, but the KMI panel decided by a majority of four to one that VAR should have intervened to recommend to referee Walsh that he should cancel the one member of the panel highlighted that they thought it was a punishable handball and the penalty award was the reprieve at Dens Park, County finished second bottom and go into Monday's second leg at home to Championship runners-up Livingston with the tie level at 1-1.
Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
SFA panel deliver verdict on Rangers vs Hibs ‘ghost goal' and controversial Dundee vs Ross County penalty decision
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOTTISH FA panel has found Rangers' controversial 'ghost goal' against Hibs at Easter Road on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season SHOULD have stood. The majority of the governing body's Key Match Indicator panel felt that the on-field decision by Nick Walsh was "incorrect" and "VAR should have intervened". Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 The goal was not given because the ball was not deemed to have cross the line Credit: PA 3 Nico Raskin think he has scored for Rangers Credit: Willie Vass 3 Dundee's Antonio Portales judged to have handled in the box Credit: BBC And the referee was at the centre of more controversy when another one of his calls - a handball in Dundee's match against Ross County, which ultimately relegated St Johnstone - has also been ruled WRONG. Walsh infuriated Rangers on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season when he failed to give the goal for the visitors to go two up on Hibs before David Gray's men levelled moments later. Nico Raskin ran through and bundled home from close range under pressure from defender Rocky Bushiri but, despite pictures appearing to show the ball over the line, the goal was not given and VAR did not get involved. Rangers questioned the effectiveness of VAR in a statement after the game. And it led to former Gers defender John Brown, who was commentating for the club's official TV channel at the time, to say it was 'corrupt'. His comments are being investigated by the SFA's compliance officer and a charge could be forthcoming, which the club have said they will defend and described as "excessive, surprising and inconsistent." A report by the KMI panel released on Friday said: "The panel discussed this decision at length with the majority (4:1) deeming the on-field decision incorrect. "The majority (4:1) believed that VAR should have intervened and recommended a factual award of the goal. "One member of the panel highlighted that they didn't think there was conclusive evidence and a VAR intervention should not take place." They also gave the difficulty of the decision a four - which is described as a 'difficult decision for officials with a high degree of subjectivity or challenging considerations to identify. One that needs deliberation. A 50:50 decision.' St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari on loving 'crazy' club owners, his Motherwell days and run-in with a Celtic hero Just a few days before, Walsh made another contentious decision. His penalty award for handball by Dundee's Antonio Portales enabled Ross County to level from the spot in the 96th minute, which was enough to relegate St Johnstone. BBC Sportcene's football pundit Michael Stewart called it "a disgrace" and "unforgivable." On the controversial handball which sunk the Saints, the report found: "The panel discussed this decision at length with the majority (4:1) deeming the on-field decision incorrect. "The majority (4:1) believed that VAR should have intervened and recommended an OFR and for the referee to cancel the award of the penalty kick. "One member of the panel highlighted that they thought it was a punishable handball and the penalty award was correct." They also gave it a difficulty level of a three which is 'a more complex decision... but one that a select group of officials should nonetheless call correctly.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The Courier
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
3 Dundee talking points as penalty controversy denies Dee salvation - what is the point of VAR?
Dundee and drama go hand in hand. Wednesday night's clash with Ross County, though, took that strange marriage to a whole new level. Edging towards safety after a not-so-perfect performance that just about deserved all three points, suddenly the ball flicks Antonio Portales on the hand and all hell breaks loose across Scottish football. Dundee's safety is now not assured, St Johnstone's relegation is now sealed and suddenly Ross County can scramble to safety despite that being their single point gained from the last 24 available. There is more to any season than one moment but some of those moments carry huge weight. That's what happened at Dens Park on Wednesday. Dundee were on the verge of victory, match reports had been completed and County's attack was desperate. Then a Ryan Astley header flicks team-mate Portales on the hand on its way out of the Dundee area. A minor infraction that in past seasons would have spelt trouble for a defender. This season, though, the guidance for referees has been to avoid punishing minor handballs with major repercussions. That is to the credit of the Scottish referee system. It felt like after a chaotic VAR learning curve officials were getting to grips with some things. This handball decision completely flew in the face of that. This was not a penalty. Referees are human and mistakes are made all the time. This is why we have VAR as a safety net. Why it was not used to avoid this farce is incredible. Ref Nick Walsh made his decision too quickly and, in the process, completely dispensed with any of the safeguards VAR provides. If he doesn't give it and it turns out it should have been given, VAR is always there to recommend he reviews the decision. But because the decision could be justified by the absolute mess of a handball rule, VAR would not intervene to over-rule. This grey area of not being wrong enough to warrant a VAR review has left Dundee and St Johnstone in the mire. With a decision this big in a match that effectively decides relegation for clubs and all that can follow, why the referee wasn't given the opportunity to review his decision on the monitor to make absolutely certain of the decision beggars belief. Why do we have VAR if it doesn't pick up bad, bad decisions like this? Aside from the refereeing decision that overshadowed the entire evening, there was another 90-plus minutes of football on show. Dundee had been poor in the first half but held it at 0-0 and then came out far better in the second period, bringing save after save from County goalie Jordan Amissah. The spark in the second period came from a real moment of quality from Lyall Cameron. His throughball for Scott Tiffoney's goal was played to perfection, cutting open the defence and setting the speedy winger away. Tiffoney's finish, too, was excellent. Even amid a poor first half that saw Dundee struggle to create, it was Cameron trying to get things going in midfield. And second half he proved the difference between the sides to follow up his double at Kilmarnock last weekend. Just when Dundee need big players stepping up, Cameron has done that. Though they don't want to lose him, everyone of a dark blue persuasion will be hoping Wednesday was his final game as a Dundee player at Dens Park. If it isn't, that means Cameron's final match before heading to Rangers will be in a play-off to avoid relegation. This, though, was a good way to sign off. And the ovation he got from fans at Dens Park when coming off with four minutes left spoke volumes. Big games have brought big moments from Cameron this week, another one on Sunday would finish his time off at the club nicely. Dundee still have a big job to do. Avoid defeat at St Johnstone on Sunday and Premiership safety will be assured – technically Ross County can win 7-0 and overhaul the Dee after a draw but that's not going to happen. If they are unable to get the job done against already-relegation Saints then they deserve to be in trouble. Approach this game correctly, though, and the prize on offer should focus minds. The anger burning through the entire squad after Wednesday's injustice should fuel them, too. In the grand scheme of things, prior to the Wednesday fixture Dundee would have taken a draw rather than the horror of a defeat. Safety is still in Dundee's hands. They must finally grab it.
Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Disgrace' – Nick Walsh slammed for penalty decision which relegated St Johnstone as fans say ‘livelihoods on the line'
Supporters and pundits have been having their say on the decision which ultimately sunk Saints DOWN 'Disgrace' – Nick Walsh slammed for penalty decision which relegated St Johnstone as fans say 'livelihoods on the line' REFEREES and VAR are once again in the spotlight in the Scottish Premiership after late drama at Dundee - and fans haven't held back in their views. Nick Walsh's controversial penalty award for handball by Antonio Portales in the 96th minute at Dens Park saw Ronan Hale net a last-gasp equaliser from the spot for Ross County. Advertisement 4 Antonio Portales penalised for handball Credit: BBC 4 Antonio Portales adjudged to have handled ball in the box Credit: BBC 4 Nick Walsh points to the spot for a controversial handball decision. Credit: BBC It keeps the Staggies' hopes of avoiding the relegation play-offs alive but means St Johnstone's 16-year stay in the top flight has come to an end as their relegation is confirmed. That has left many fans on social media perplexed and frustrated that the decision denied Saints the chance to pull off the great escape on the final day. One fan said on X: "You get relegated over the course of a season and I accept that, but that scandalous decision from Nick Walsh has not only ripped away our chance to stay up on the final day, it's meant Dundee are still not safe. "Never a penalty, typical that was what ultimately killed us." Advertisement Another added: "This is CRAZY officiating. How Nick Walsh has given this handball as a penalty in the first place. When he did give it, it's even worse that VAR didn't overturn it." Some fans could see it from the other side and believe Portales left the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Another fan pointed out: "I am sorry as a Dundee fan that is a penalty. Why does Portales lift his arm up once he had landed?" Another one added: "Why does he bring his hand back up. All his own making." Advertisement Football pundit Michael Stewart though was unequivocal in his view, he said on BBC Sportscene: "It's a disgrace, let's not beat about the bush. "The fact Nick Walsh gives a penalty in the first place is just unforgivable and for VAR not to intervene and overturn this is inexcusable. " St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari on loving 'crazy' club owners, his Motherwell days and run-in with a Celtic hero Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew, who was also on the programme added: "It should never have been a penalty kick. "Anyone that's played the game knows when you're running backwards and you jump you have to put your hands in the air. Advertisement "It's natural for your hands to be up there. He's gaining no advantage by the ball hitting his hand - it's going away from goal, it's a disadvantage if it goes back to his own goal." The penalty also had repercussions for Dundee who are still in relegation trouble ahead of facing St Johnstone on Sunday. Fuming Dark Blues boss Tony Docherty ducked the post match press conference after previously raging at officials in recent games against Motherwell and Kilmarnock so left it to his assistant Stuart Taylor. He said: 'The manager chapped the ref's door, I don't know what was said. Advertisement 'I think it's a great talking point for everyone after the last couple of weeks, so there's no point me saying any more. 'There's confusion and disbelief, but they're a great bunch of boys and they're robust. 'The manager gave the lads a great speech and got everyone ready for Sunday's game. 4 Nick Walsh decision Credit: Rex Advertisement 'It's in our hands at this moment in time. We are in a good position. If we take care of Sunday's game we'll be fine." The point keeps Ross County alive ahead of facing Motherwell on the final day of the season, boss Don Cowie said: "I've not seen it from a really good angle. "What will probably frustrate Dundee will be the manner. They win first contact and the ball is going out of the box. "But his arm is out and by the letter of the law, it's probably a penalty. Advertisement "It's important we stopped the run of form we were on. "We wanted the three points, but we are still fighting going into the last game." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
