ATLETICO MADRID hitman Antoine Griezmann levelled for his side at Celtic Park – but NOT from the penalty spot.
He was handed the chance from 12 yards after Greg Taylor had sent Nahuel Molina tumbling in the box.
But the 25th minute strike only came after the ball rebounded from the post – and was struck in at the second attempt by the French World Cup winner.
The game quickly restarted with scores level after Kyogo Furuhashi‘s opener – but many fans were puzzled by the quick turnaround.
While some debated the decision to penalise the Hoops defender for the foul, others questioned if the goal should have stood at all – and their argument was all down to Joe Hart’s actions on the goal-line.
One asked: “Did Hart touch that penalty? Should it have counted?”
Another said: “Interesting goal scored by Griezmann, he hit the post with the penalty and put home the rebound. Not 100% clear whether Hart got his fingertips to the penalty. My understanding of the law is that if Hart doesn’t touch the penalty then the goal has to be disallowed.”
A third added: “Did Hart definitely touch that onto the post? Cause if he didn’t that’s not a goal.”
Their questions all stem from the small-print around penalty kicks.
According to IFAB rules, Law 14 on Penalty Kicks: “The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.”
So Griezmann’s two strikes must have had a touch from Hart in between – as well as hitting the post.
But subsequent replays on TNT Sports showed the keeper had done just enough to divert the left-footed spot-kick onto the woodwork, but it was struck with such power the rebound fell kindly to the Frenchman.
Hart’s initial attempt left the goal gaping and Griezmann made no mistake with his second chance, converting with his right.
As Hoops fans rued their opponent’s good fortune the home side’s players re-grouped and quickly restored the lead too.
An incisive breakaway from Daizen Maeda saw a ball flashed across goal, and Luis Palma lasers a strike in off the post to go 2-1.
Kyogo Furuhashi had already opened the scoring with a move he started and finished – converting from close range after a one-two with Matt O’Riley.
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