Jens Berthel Askou not 'surprised' by SFA stance on Celtic penalty drama as Motherwell exit rumour addressed

The Dane was left bereft after the Celtic were awarded a second-half stoppage -time spot kick for a handball by Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson following a VAR review in a 3-2 loss against Martin O’Neill’s team. World football has been talking about the decision made by VAR official Andrew Dallas and referee John Beaton following its impacts on the title race concerning Hearts and Celtic ahead of their final day showdown at Parkhead.

For fourth-placed Motherwell, they still have to avoid defeat against Hibs a place below them on Saturday if they want to cement Conference League qualifiers this summer. Askou was stunned to see the call given but it’s been claimed that head of referees Willie Collum and the Scottish FA will stand by the decision. Doing otherwise wouldn’t be helpful, according to the Fir Park boss, but that doesn’t change his view of the controversy.

Jens Berthel Askou on Celtic penalty vs Motherwell

“It doesn’t surprise me that they feel an urge to back the referees at this moment in the league because if it wasn’t, it would upset a lot of people and it would also cause even more drama than there has already been,” said Askou. “I think the clubs and the referees need to be able to focus on delivering and performing at their best.

“But I have also heard them talk about orange cards and things like that that don’t exist. So I stand by what I said. I think it was a huge mistake. We’ve had most of the world agree with that. It doesn’t change my mind if they disagree but it is what it is. We just need to put it behind us like we have put many other things behind us this season and go on and do our best.

“I participated in a very good and constructive meeting we had facilitated by the SFA and the referees in the winter. That was a very good and constructive meeting where we discussed some situations that had occurred, and how we viewed it, in order to help everyone understand how we want to find a line on how to do things going forward. There will be a meeting like that at the right time. Besides that, I don’t feel an urge speaking to the referees or the head of referees, besides on game day when we need to communicate back and forth.”

Will Jens Berthel Askou leave Motherwell this summer?

Pre-match, Askou was linked with French Ligue 1 side Toulouse. Askou has consistently been put forward to the upcoming vacancy at Celtic ahead of O’Neill’s summer departure and it has now been claimed he’s a frontrunner to replace outbound Carles Martínez Novell at Les Violets. Stars like Elijah Just, Tawanda Maswanhise and Elliot Watt have also been touted with summer exits but Askou takes pride in interest surrounding Motherwell assets.

"No, I can't comment on that,” Askou responded when asked about the links to France. “As I've said over and over again, when people do well, especially the players, it brings a lot of speculation and rumours. Not just in this club but all over the world. We will accept that part of it and that with praise and good performances, rumours also follow. Then time will tell for everyone when some of these rumours or speculation become reality or not. We are here to do a job, and so am I, and I can't wait to go at it on Saturday. Then hopefully we'll have an even more exciting season here next year.

“We're not sad about all the praise. We're proud about it and we just use it as fuel to keep going and reach out for more and stay ambitious. Because many of the decisions the club has made, also by the new board when they came in, on behalf of this club and the platform they have given me also to come in and try and make a difference and do some changes, has been worth it in terms of where we are now. I think also that some of that, much of that, needs to go back to the board and the visions that they have. It's not enough to have visions, you also need execution, but it's not enough to execute if you don't have the vision or the trust and the freedom to go and do that. So it's just positive for the club that we are where we are now.”

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