The VAR lie extended into new territory on Sunday with a clear lie sent to over 40,000 fans inside Celtic Park.
In the 72nd minute the messaging was clear as play was stopped, Matthew MacDermid went pitchside and returned with a red card for Auston Trusty.
It was great drama. Created in the best style of Hugh Dallas and Willie Collum as the referee became the centre of attention.
As play restarted Celtic were to take the delayed corner.
MacDermid positioned himself centrally just outside the penalty box. He had wasted a lot of time earlier in the match by breaking up tussles waiting on corner kicks.
SELECTIVE VAR- THE SCOTTISH VERSION
This time he didn’t. Jack Iredale pulled at Liam Scales, as the Celtic defender ran to meet the cross Iredale had Scales’ shirt held in his arm.
Warren O’Hora got to the ball ahead of Scales, knocking it behind again for a corner.
Scales was held, he was impeded, it was deliberate.
Play was paused, the incident was reviewed by Grant Irvine on VAR. Incredibly he decided that MacDermid didn’t need to review it pitchside.
The it truly got ridiculous.
Rather than play restarting with a corner to Celtic, Hibs got a bye-kick. On the screen the message of DECISION NO PENALTY- INCIDENT OUTSIDE PENALTY AREA.
Neither was correct. Perhaps Irvine, a PE teacher at Boclair Academy in Bearsden, educational home of the Murray Park starlets was too busy watching the Sky Sports action from Livingston.
Clear Penalty but VAR comes up with this Lie “Incident outside the Box” when there’s NO Hibs players outside the box. pic.twitter.com/zH02N6TWA8
— James (@jay1888kay) February 22, 2026
After the match Martin O’Neill was told that the jersey pull didn’t last long enough. There is nothing in the Laws of the Game about how long a jersey can be pulled.
Media friendly Willie Collum hasn’t been in contact with anyone to justify this decision.
CELTIC AND THEIR SILENT SFA SUPPORT
There has been no move to correct the message that the incident was outside the penalty area. It could have been the wrong template was used.
Of course the SFA can guarantee the absolute silence of Celtic, that has been the case since July 2012.
In April 2015 the surprised and disappointed statement was published following Steven McLean’s performance in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness Caley Thistle.
In January 2019 a similar statement surfaced after a John Beaton masterclass at Ibrox centered around Alfredo Morelos.
Both statements were laughed at by the SFA, Peter Lawwell never took it any further.
McLean and Beaton remain in the SFA refereeing elite, often teamed up for the biggest fixtures of the season.
This is referring in Scotland today. The Lanarkshire Lodge of referees are determined to stop Celtic winning the league. Look at the sign. Despite this incident being 8 yards from the goal! Cheating or incompetence, both sackable @WillieCollum https://t.co/Tj4Np0o901 pic.twitter.com/JPGfIkhUvs
— Bill Bennett (@BillBen50947120) February 23, 2026
Does Brian Wilson have the interest of Celtic at heart?
YES- lives and breathes Celtic 24/7. True Celtic man
NO- self interest only. 100% a career politician. Me me me
Get the lawyers in. Take this to law.
If you do not we have to assume that Celtic are complicit.
Editor: Alas you have answered it.
There is a great way to inform the stadium and fans watching at home when contentious decisions by referees and VAR poodles are happening and are ultra confusing ? Use the technology available in the 21st century by allowing the discussions of those officials to be relayed to everyone like they do in Rugby . You know , like the why’s, wherefore’s and reasons behind Important decisions in any game in wee Scotland. That way the confusion and turmoil and upheaval gets the Ultra High Definition treatment to obliterate the embarrassing activities. Allowing the discussions between match officials to be heard by all through stadium Bluetooth speakers automatically improves the standard of match officials and provides answers to the questions which may be asked by thousands if not millions of folks every week of every season . It’s not advanced quantum computing…it’s easy to do . Do it …NOW ! Talk to us …it’s good to talk !