With back-to-back VAR appointments Sky Sport viewers had the opportunity to examine the decision making of Greg Aitken.
At Fir Park on Sunday Stuart Kettlewell was baffled that VAR didn’t intervene when Cyriel Dessers pulled the shirt of Mika Bireth as the striker moved in on a ball played to the back post. Those familiar with Aitken’s background and career weren’t surprised that VAR looked the other way.
Today at Dundee Cameron Carter-Vickers had the arms and hands of Trevor Carson and Joe Shaughessy in his face as a corner came into the box from the left hand side, Aitken never flinched with play continuing without a review.
Two minutes earlier it had been Carson on his own that knocked the Celtic defender out of contention, again there was no VAR review.
Is that no a foul on CCV pic.twitter.com/dk6GscxMdX
— Paul (@PaulJohnMcFadd2) December 26, 2023
Aitken did spring into action soon after Celtic opened the scoring through Paulo Bernardo, holding play up for two minutes as he scanned for possible handball from Greg Taylor and Stephen Welsh, he found nothing.
Celtic ran out 3-0 winners with Mikey Johnston coming off the bench twice to score in the last 10 minutes.
Alongside Andrew Dallas, Aitken now has a full-time career as a VAR official which makes it more difficult to demote him.
Nick Walsh will referee Saturday’s Glasgow Derby with Willie Collum on VAR duty.
Shocking ? imagine thinking refs would cheat for the new rangers like they cheated for the dead rangers ? Greg Aitken was the guy who gave a penalty for morelos diving into a defender but missed a 2 handed push on the same defender in the rangers box ????? honest mistakes eh ? pic.twitter.com/1LJ1FbKUTT
— Yogi il Tempo (@Yogi_theTim) October 5, 2020
?? “How lucky can you get?”
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher’s take on Motherwell’s claim for a penalty against Rangers ?? pic.twitter.com/rvOc0mHD0S
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 26, 2023
? “Penalty Rangers”
Celtic chief Michael Nicholson’s cutting reply when quizzed on referees and VAR at AGMhttps://t.co/6vJYJ8p66Ihttps://t.co/6vJYJ8p66I
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) November 22, 2023
CCV should have fallen on the goal line,
holding his head – and stayed there.
Our players shoud have gone tonto at ref.
Keeper had clearly raised his hand to CCV’s throat / head.
Ref would have to intervene – and possibly forcing a VAR review?
Sometimes think we’re a bit naive at non-decisions.
Force VAR reviews whenever we’re being cheated.
Play them at their own game!