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Ref Watch: Our officiating expert explains why Aberdeen should have had a penalty against Ross County

Matty Kennedy shoots for Aberdeen against Ross County. Image: Shutterstock
Matty Kennedy shoots for Aberdeen against Ross County. Image: Shutterstock

Aberdeen hosted Ross County at Pittodrie on Monday as both Jim Goodwin and Malky Mackay looked to end four-game losing streaks for their respective teams – but what did our expert make of the refereeing in the fixture?

In a Premiership meeting where the Dons dominated their Dingwall opponents, without being able to break the deadlock, there were plenty of penalty shouts for the home team, amid some tough Staggies tackling and other flashpoints.

Angle was everything when it came to challenge on Ramirez

The first of these spot-kick shouts came when striker Christian Ramirez, who made a rare start for Aberdeen this season, appeared to be hauled to the ground inside the area. However, the referee was unmoved.

My first reaction to the challenge was a foul and a penalty.

Aberdeen striker Christian Ramirez goes down. Image: Shutterstock

Looking at the footage, from one angle, it does appear a spot-kick should have been awarded, but – crucially – from the angle behind the goal, you can clearly see the Ross County defender who was putting pressure on Ramirez got a touch on the ball from between the attacker’s legs.

As such, no penalty after a VAR check was correct.

Tillson handball looked very similar to penalty given against Richardson at Ibrox…

However, shortly after this incident, a Matty Kennedy shot was blocked by Ross County’s Jordan Tillson – with the ball appearing to strike the defending player’s arm.

The ball actually came off Tillson’s foot and the ground before hitting (or appearing to hit) his arm.

Having watched the highlights, they fail to show a replay of the apparent handball from the camera behind the goal. This would have, in theory, been the best angle to see where exactly the ball hit Tillson, and without this angle a complete opinion can’t be given.

To my mind, though, the arm of Tillson was in an unnatural position, and the ball did seem to hit his arm from the angles available.

The application of the handball rule varies from game to game, and even with VAR it is still so subjective, but I have seen handballs given this season in similar circumstances.

Jayden Richardson was penalised for a handball in similar circumstances away at Rangers earlier in the campaign, when the ball came off his foot and flicked up to hit his hand.

The ball hits Aberdeen’s Jayden Richardson (centre) on the hand at Ibrox. Image: Rob Casey/SNS

So why was the referee asked to review that incident at the monitor following the incident against Rangers at Ibrox – but Dons-County whistler Matthew MacDermid was not sent to the monitor following the similar incident during Monday’s game?

I do think Aberdeen should have been awarded the penalty.

Randall lucky with Clarkson challenge – but yellow was correct card

Later in the game, a heavy challenge on Reds midfielder Leighton Clarkson from Connor Randall resulted in a yellow card being shown to the Ross County defender.

It was a really hard tackle, but a yellow was correct – although it was very late and Randall could consider himself lucky.

If the challenge had been any higher, then absolutely it would have been a red.

I did think referee MacDermid carried out his duties well in playing the advantage for Aberdeen to attack, before going back to book the player.

Ross County’s Connor Randall talks to referee Matthew MacDermid. Image: Shutterstock

Final spot-kick shout was called correctly by officials

Aberdeen would then have yet another shout of a penalty as a cross from Duk struck the arm of Keith Watson.

On this one, I have to agree with the referee – the arm of Watson was close to his body and didn’t really make his body bigger in any way.

Although there was an extremely guilty look from the defender afterwards, he was ultimately lucky he kept his arms tight to his body and in a natural position.

Even in this example, there will be onlookers who felt this incident should have also been a penalty, and the matter of handball will continue to split opinions across the nation.

  • Finlay Elder has been a registered referee for six years and a category 5 official since 2019, with experience in the Highland League, juniors and Club Academy. 

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