I'VE been calling for video evidence to be introduced to top-level football for a number of years now.

And if I ever needed an example of why there is a need for it then it was the chaotic scenes at Tynecastle on Wednesday.

Instead of Rangers dropping two points against Hearts in the capital and handing Old Firm rivals Celtic a massive lift, what looks like a dodgy deci-sion could have a vital bearing on the championship chase.

I'm certain assistant referee Andy Davis made an honest mistake when he informed Hugh Dallas that he believed Sotirios Kyrgiakos had been fouled inside the Hearts penalty area.

But I think he made a wrong call and it could, depending on other results between now and the end of the season, have a say on whether Celtic or Rangers win the title.

I don't think you can argue otherwise because, if Rangers win on goal difference, then Celtic will look back on this incident as a defining moment.

Obviously you hope such decisions even themselves out over the course of the season, although I don't know if Martin O'Neill will agree at this moment in time.

The Celtic players must have been extremely disappointed as they gathered in the dressing room at Parkhead after beating Dundee 3-0.

They would have been made aware of a Hearts' equaliser by the huge roar that went up shortly before big Bobo Balde scored their third goal and must have thought it was their lucky night.

With just minutes remaining in both games, the current SPL champions had every right to believe they were back in a commanding position; win their two games in hand and they would return to top spot.

Many of the Celtic players would not have known what had happened in injury-time at Tynecastle until they were in the dressing room.

Sometimes some of the staff inform you as you make your way there. However, regardless of when they found out, it would have come as a disappointment.

Hearts boss John Robertson clearly thought it was a bad call - as did his player, Saulius Mikoliunas, who ended up receiving a double red card for an ill-judged confrontation with the assistant referee.

Thankfully, for a change, Robertson chose his words carefully because he has already been in bother with the SFA.

Even Rangers manager Alex McLeish admitted the penalty was of the soft variety - and you know if that's the case then it must have been.

He would not have said that if he thought there had been even minimal contact.

So, until we allow video evidence, there will always be situations like this, and they are really bad for the game.

Think of it this way. Hugh Dallas and his linesman spoke about it for a minute or so before he pointed to the spot.

In that time someone could have checked TV replays and got word back to them if it had been conclusive either way, and then there would have been none of this furore.

I'm not talking about general decisions officials make during a game, but the ones that really matter.

It might not be Rangers who benefit from a wrong call. It could be Celtic or whoever, and I just don't see why football chiefs can't move with the times.

For me, it's the way ahead, and all the furore that followed the game at Tynecastle could have been avoided. Eventually it will happen. It must.

Taken from Evening Times