Duk sees Celtic penalty 'mentalists' eviscerated by ex ref as escalating Aberdeen conspiracy theory gets IFAB check

Former SFA referee Bobby Madden has defended referee Nick Walsh and the VAR team amid criticism for not awarding Celtic a late corner against Aberdeen.

Duk was the hero at the back for Jimmy Thelin's men as he threw his body in front of Alistair Johnston's low drive in injury time after goalkeeper Dimitor Mitov had initially clawed Adam Idah's header from point blank range out of the net. The ball was cleared for a corner by the Aberdeen forward with whistler Walsh initially awarding a corner deep into 10 minutes of injury time before VAR stepped in to check for a potential handball.

Duk was cleared of the offence by Greg Aitken and the team in Clydesdale House and with 102 minutes on the clock, the full-time whistle was blown. However, frustrated fans have vented over the decision to now allow Brendan Rodgers' men to take the corner late in the game.

Taking to Instagram, Madden has clamped the complaint. He posted to Instagram: "Need to clear up a couple of things with the penalty claim in the 12th minute of the MINIMUM 10 minutes of additional time.

"It's quite clear from the evidence that the ball does not strike the hand of the Aberdeen defender. The ball strikes the thigh and then the body of the defender. That is a fact. This incident does have to be checked by VAR though, and has been.

"Immediately after the incident the ball is put out for a corner. The time is up though, the game is over. What the referee can't do is blow for full time and have players leave the pitch, staff entering pitch and spectators leaving the stadium while a check is ongoing.

"Could you imagine you blow for full time and then say, oh wait we have an on field review? It would be carnage. That's why the protocol is in place to manage it,