Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell sounds like a man on a mission after he reveals talks with officials from the SFA, France and Germany over the Rugby Park Celtic penalty.
It’s been 16 days since Celtic’s penalty was awarded and it seems that Kettlewell has been a busy man looking for everyone and anyone to back him up that the award was wrong.
The Kilmarnock manager was livid at the decision to give Celtic a last-minute spot kick after Lewis Mayo was adjudged to have handled the ball by VAR after it was deflected by Robbie Deas.
And now, two weeks after the incident, Kettlewell reveals the extraordinary lengths he has gone to to prove the decision by the matchday officials was wrong.
Kelechi Iheanacho stands and prepares to take Celtic’s penalty vs Kilmarnock.Stuart Kettlewell ‘would be surprised’ if Celtic penalty is awarded again after SFA talks
First up, Kettlewell reveals a ‘good, lengthy conversation’ with officials from the SFA and drops a hint that there could be communication from the Hampden beaks with further guidance on the handball rule.
Kettlewell told the Scottish Football Social Club,”It’s difficult for me how much I can disclose and what I can say.
“What I can say is that I have since had a really good, lengthy conversation and an explanation as to what was seen and what the decision was.
“I’d spoken about it after, but I believe that we’re going to see some disappointed people in Scottish football if that’s what’s seen deemed a penalty kick that ricocheted off a foot and onto an arm from such close proximity.
“It would be my understanding, and again, I need to be careful, I’m not trying to quote anybody here, I would be surprised if we see that again as a penalty throughout the season. I think that would be fair to say.”
Stuart Kettlewell shares what officials from France and Germany said about Celtic penalty
Not stopping at speaking to people from the SFA, Kettlewell also reveals that he moved his moans abroad to speak to other officials from countries like Germany and France to get their view on the penalty.
Kettlewell continued, “I think there has been some serious work done behind the scenes, not just in Scotland, but, speaking to other associations, other officials to pick their brains, ‘Would you give that in France, or would you give that in Germany’ or whatever?
“And I think the general consensus is that people don’t want to see it as a penalty. That doesn’t help us on the day. Of course, it doesn’t. But I think that me saying that lines up with what you guys felt, what I think everybody in Scottish Football felt after that game.
“And I think it becomes so difficult for defenders. I would argue that was terrific defending from Robbie Deas and Lewis Mayo and the consequence of a block where your foot is and a ricochet from half a yard.
“So, I think, we all agree that it can’t be a penalty and we don’t want it seen as a penalty.”
There is no argument that the penalty award was harsh but let’s not forget Kettlewell’s hypocrisy when Kilmarnock were awarded a dubious penalty a week later against St Mirren where it saved his team from another defeat.
Penalties will either go for you, or against you. Celtic have had a number of dubious awards given against them since VAR was introduced in October 2022.
As the old saying goes, these decisions even themselves out over the course of a season, right? Of course they do. As Kettlewell’s silence against St Mirren last week proved.