On Tuesday night fans of clubs in the Champions League watched their players in action, scrutinised by real VAR. Not the home made SFA version.
The manual VAR system first came into play three years ago with Nick Walsh instructed to award Hearts two penalties against Celtic in the first televised match.
UEFA VAR
Across Europe last night proper VAR was in use. An automated system that provides clear cut graphics that instantly resolves issues. There is a format, a 360 degrees option that takes the viewer through an incident at the point of contact. Very much like Hawk-eye in tennis. In Scotland we get aye-aye from the SFA.
In Scotland we get Steven McLean and Andrew Dallas fumbling around looking for the outcome they require.
Some might draw a comparison of Ferrari’s against a Honda Civic. Or an e-scooter.
Spare a thought for Bobby Madden and his 7 refs he made up, on this most tragic of Champions League nights. https://t.co/DhMHZIn3Y9
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) November 4, 2025
ANFIELD
As the graphic above shows Alexis McAllister was onside for the only goal of the game at Anfield last night. There will be no statements from Real Madrid or innuendo about the background of the VAR officials. Justice was done for Liverpool.
In UEFA matches VAR is factual, in Scotland it is subjective.
UEFA offside decisions are made within one minute. Celtic know about it from the match against YB Bern back in January. Annoyingly, frustratingly the decisions are accepted.
MCLEAN & DALLAS PRODUCTIONS
Outside of the Celtic boardroom no fan is accepting Sunday’s evidence from McLean & Dallas Productions.
There is no precision on when the ball was played by Ben Nygren. The camera angle shown is random and not the best available. The lines constructed are laughable.
The VAR official makes the decision THEN shares the image HE CHOOSES in order to justify that decision.
It is 100% subjective.
Dallas (son of Bigot) cannot possibly be trusted.
A fraction of a second later, Maeda is onside.
Dallas Jr is a fucking cheat
Clear daylight rule https://t.co/Z41m4XtTNf
— Billybhoy999 (@billybhoy999) November 2, 2025
At Ibrox tomorrow night proper VAR will be in place for the Europa League visit of Roma.
Those VAR systems have been in use at Celtic Park and Pittodrie this season.
By not using the best technology available it seems like the SFA are trying to retain a level of influence for McLean, Dallas and the rest of Willie Collum’s woeful crew of match officials.
Should @CelticFC demand an explanation from the SFA?@ACSOMPOD pic.twitter.com/EH6Sep7ZFF
— Sean Down Under (@Sean_Down_Under) November 4, 2025
VAR is why our refs now prefer the spurious free kick/ break down play approach.
It has taken away 95% of the cheating that was employed before it was introduced.
All that’s left is the ability to “ choose” what image they use on VAR decisions and the stopping play approach.
Surely UEFA need to have a look at this or at the very least have it brought to their attention?
It brings the whole game in Europe into disrepute if we have a rogue state employing its own interpretation of the rules, AKA as cheating.
The evidence above looks pretty solid to me.
Just as a side note….surely we have a graphics expert Celtic supporter out there who could apply the same tech to these images as is used in countries who have a semblance or morals and ethical behaviour that use VAR.
These bastards need called out using irrefutable imagery.
This is just me , but until we hear the audio between the VAR poodles and stooges and referees through the stadium loudspeaker , in actual real time LIVE , Scottish football shall remain in the palaeolithic period of the Stone Age ! Wilmaaaaaa…I’m home !
The differences in the two systems are apparent.
Affordability was the stated reasoning. Does anyone know what the difference is in pound notes ?
This was my thought too but then Joe makes the very good point that the system is in use in 3 stadiums in Scotland. It will have also been used in other stadiums here for the qualifiers of other teams.
This confirms that we can at the very least provide the infrastructure for it which I believe was another factor in it’s implementation.
But if it is being used by 3 clubs in Scotland I assume it is down to the clubs to make the stadium suitable for it at there own cost so no reason they shouldn’t be pushing it across the league.
We pay MN & PL etc without what seems much return, I wouldn’t mind at all if Celtic paid more than everyone else for a proper VAR system, cis we will benefit from it from both perspectives, our games and THEIR games would both be scrutinised properly….it would be the best money we could spend.
Well, the match officials are not rated by FIFA or UEFA,
so they’ve nothing to lose by supporting the current, ‘inconsistent’ VAR set-up?
…or, binning VAR altogether?
You’d think that the strongest club in the SPFL would have a clear policy on VAR,
and match officiating improvements, generally?
Sevco will know all about ‘unfair’ (really fair) officiating tomorrow night for sure !