Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell believes that Celtic should have been given a penalty in their recent Champions League defeat.
Celtic were beaten for the second time in the space of a week by Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig 2-0 at Parkhead on Tuesday night.
It’s a result that leaves Celtic with just one point from their first four group games and their European campaign hanging by a thread.
However, things could perhaps have been better had Ange Postecoglou’s side been awarded a spot-kick for an apparent foul on Giorgos Giakoumakis.
With the score at 1-0 the Greek striker was brought down (3:41) but neither the referee nor VAR felt it worthy of pointing to the spot.
When asked by Football Insider for his thoughts on the matter Campbell said: “It is a penalty.
Should this have been a penalty?
Yes!
No!
“Here is the crazy thing, when you watch it again the defender is tugging him back all of the way. Normally, when players hold onto the opposition in the box they let go when the ball gets near. This lad never even let go.
“The officials still did not give it though. What does that tell you? Something it not right. Something is not working because that has to be a penalty.
“He is holding him all of the way. It is a penalty all day long.
“Celtic could have been playing until next week and they would not have scored. They needed some help and the penalty could have given them that.”
TIF Thoughts on Campbell’s comments…
While many Celtic fans will side with Campbell’s take and feel that their team should have been given a route back into the game, many will know that they had enough chances as it was to earn a result.
According to SofaScore, the Bhoys created and missed five big chances and had 13 attempts inside the box.
However, having hit the woodwork twice supporters will rightly believe that luck just wasn’t on their side for perhaps the whole tournament let alone in their latest outing.
With VAR set to be introduced in the Scottish Premiership this weekend, they will certainly be hoping that decisions start going their way.