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Controversy, lengthy delays, refereeing inconsistencies... you name it, VAR has dominated the headlines with it almost every other week since it was introduced to Scottish football in October.
Others will argue the toss but, for me, no Scottish Premiership club has suffered more than Celtic since the new refereeing technology graced the game here.
Ahead of the Premiership resumption, we've decided to delve into this season's sporting archive to highlight three of the worst decisions that have gone against Ange Postecoglou's team thus far...
1. Hearts 3-4 Celtic
Date: Saturday October 22, 2022
Incident: Handball by Hearts defender Michael Smith
VAR verdict: No penalty given and no review by referee
The day VAR was unleashed on Scottish football. This Hearts v Celtic clash at Tynecastle certainly didn't disappoint as the two teams served up an absolute classic. It ended in a seven-goal thriller with the Hoops edging a cracking contest and Greg Taylor emerging as the unlikely match-winning hero and two penalties given after VAR intervention.
However, all the furore and controversy surrounded a potential third penalty - one that Celtic were not awarded. Referee Nick Walsh and VAR official Steven McLean failed to award the Hoops a spot-kick when the ball struck Hearts defender Smith's arm in the box.
❌ Ange Postecoglou couldn't believe it when Celtic were not awarded a penalty after claims for a handball against Michael Smith. Was that the right call? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/aY9LoXrnsX
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 22, 2022
Postecoglou's reaction was priceless. He laughed at the apparent madness of the decision and held his hands above his head. The Australian then questioned the rules governing handball and offered a withering putdown of the technology - although he was clever to avoid calling out any of the officials.
"Look I thought we had a clear-cut handball and penalty but apparently that's not good enough - what do I know?" Postecoglou said post-match. "We haven't had a penalty all year and I keep hearing opposition managers saying we get everything.
"The only penalties we have taken so far this season have been in training. I felt we had a clear-cut penalty and we didn't get it so it doesn't mean it's fool-proof either."
That's as emphatic a condemnation of VAR as there is.
2. Motherwell 1-2 Celtic
Date: November 9, 2022
Incident: Jota scores a goal, linesman flags
VAR verdict: Offside given and goal disallowed
Jota scored a sumptuous chip - a goal-of-the-season contender really - to make it 2-0 to Celtic. The assistant flagged for offside before VAR David Dickinson eventually confirmed the on-field call and referee Willie Collum disallowed the strike.
However, Sky Sports broadcast images showed a camera angle for the decision to be around 50 yards away and it all started to get murky after that.
Various narratives emerged in which nobody appeared able to get their story straight. The football authorities apportioned blame to 'human error'. Initially it was that a camera operator on the 18-yard line failed to record but the episode soon entered the realm of farce.
— Celtic Goals (@celticgoalsreal) November 9, 2022
Well chief executive Alan Burrows confirmed on social media that cameras on both 18-yard lines were operational while Celtic issued a complaint to the SFA regarding the decision and the procedures followed to reach it.
When the governing body broke their silence it was to address the issue with a statement. It read: "Referee Operations can confirm that during a VAR review at Motherwell v Celtic, the footage from the relevant 18-yard line camera did not capture an appropriate view of the incident.
"While the broadcast footage was only able to show a wider camera angle for viewers, Hawk-Eye technology is designed to calibrate an accurate offside decision from either of the two 18-yard line camera positions, with the subsequent VAR review determining that the Celtic player had received the ball in an offside position.”
As clear as mud, then.
3. Rangers 2-2 Celtic
Date: January 2, 2023
Incident: Handball by Rangers defender Connor Goldson
VAR verdict: No penalty given
Carl Starfelt rather feebly attempts a shot at goal and Goldson appears to block it with both hands. This one sent people into a tailspin - and reaching for the IFAB rules.
Those state:
While the incident seemed to confirm Goldson meeting the first two points in the IFAB stipulations, referee John Beaton stopped the game to converse with his fellow officials via headset but ultimately dismissed any concerns and ordered play-on.
Later, an entry in the IFAB FAQ section was widely used as justification. That scenario stated:
Postecoglou addressed such talk seeking to apply a scenario in an addendum categorically later in the week when he said: "I saw people doing mental gymnastics all week trying to figure out why it wasn’t a penalty. Maybe that’s because it was a penalty and there’s nothing to figure out."
That’s a penalty. Horrendous. pic.twitter.com/MXCJ3DtfQL
— Sean Martin (@seanmartinTCW) January 2, 2023
All's fair in love and VAR, isn't it? Well, for those of a Celtic persuasion, it most certainly has not been.
But we'll leave the final word on VAR to Postecoglou, shall we?
"It doesn’t miss anything, VAR," he said. "VAR doesn’t miss anything by the looks of it - especially with us."
This piece is an extract from the latest Celtic Digest newsletter, which is emailed out every weekday evening with a round-up of the day's top stories and exclusive analysis from The Celtic Way team.
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