Ex-PGMOL chief: Referee forced to use bad law against Hibs in Ross County clash

01/27/2025 12:00 PM

Hibernian were rightly penalised with a penalty for handball in the first half of their draw at Ross County, Keith Hackett has said.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that while he does not believe the handball law is a good one, it was used correctly by referee David Dickinson in this instance.

Hibs boss David Gray saw his side denied all three points after a late penalty was awarded following a challenge inside the area by goalkeeper Jordan Smith on Kieran Phillips.

Prior to that though, Hibernian had conceded a contentious spot-kick, but one that ultimately Hackett believes was rightly awarded.

Hibernian concede penalty after ‘no good’ handball law applied correctly

With half an hour on the clock and the score locked at 0-0 at Dingwall on Saturday (25 January), Noah Chilvers fired a cross into the visitor’s penalty.

Initially that appeared to be comfortably cleared away by the Hibernian defence, only for VAR to spot the ball striking the outstretched hand of Nicky Cadden at the back post.

That was then checked on-field by Dickinson, after which a penalty was awarded to Ross, leaving Hibs fans frustrated not for the first time recently, with some viewing the decision as contentious.

Hackett though believes it was right for the referee to point to the spot after consulting with the VAR monitor.

When asked by Football Insider the first penalty award against Hibernian was the correct decision, the former referee said:

“I think that when the player raises his arm and the ball hits he’s absolutely in danger of having a penalty kick awarded against him.

“I think the whole argument is we know that the handball law is not a good one, but the referees have got to apply it and I think on reviewing the video I think it’s very difficult for him to say it’s not handball on this one.

“I think the important here is he’s in a good position, he’s not given it, and VAR’s come in and he’s gone to the screen to check it.

“So there’s that check and balance coming in on VAR for these decisions now which sometimes are difficult during active play, and need to be reviewed in order to actually satisfy the law has been broken.That’s what happened in this case.”

Ultimately that penalty would be missed Jordan White, before Dylan Levitt fired Hibernian in front shortly before half-time.

But when Ronan Hale did convert a second penalty of the afternoon for Ross late on, both sides were forced to settle for a point apiece, leaving Hibs sixth in the Scottish Premiership, level on points with St Mirren in seventh.

In other news, Hibernian are among the Scottish Premiership clubs interested in signing a Luton Town midfielder.

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