Martin O’Neill has brushed aside the VAR controversies during Celtic’s 2-1 victory over St Mirren on Saturday.
Three decisions attracted the concern and anger of Celtic supporters, heightened after the match by claims that the VAR lines weren’t properly calibrated.
During the first half VAR stepped in to disallow a ‘goal’ from Camilo Duran. Two still images have emerged giving conflicting outcomes.
Soon afterwards there were claims for a penalty when Liam Scales appeared to be pushed as he positioned himself to head a corner.
The biggest controversy of all came in stoppage time when Shim Mkeuka appeared to score his first Celtic goal.
Unusually no VAR lines were produced. Without evidence on a factual decision Don Robertson ordered a pitchside review.
Referee Ryan Lee had allowed the goal to stand, as had his assistant who never flagged.
Based on a still image Lee disallowed the goal.
No VAR images have been produced with the SFA refusing to offer an explanation.
Most fans and pundits are of the understanding that the on field decision stands unless there is evidence to the contrary.
That issue cropped up early in O’Neill’s media conference. After some typical jousting with the questioner the Celtic boss brought the issue to a close.
https://youtu.be/E7UaGF21TOY
O’NEILL SIDESTEPS VAR ISSUES
Yeah, I think it’s frustrating in that sense that you think in this particular day and age that you could get lines drawn properly but I think it’s been a bit of a problem here for a while.
And you know what, some days it’ll work in our favour so I shouldn’t complain. I’m not complaining because we won!
The big issue isn’t the drawing of lines.
It was the absence of lines and Robertson requesting a pitch-side review without any factual evidence.
In the end that decision didn’t cost any points but it would only have required one shot at goal or a deflection to give St Mirren an equaliser.
Piecing the evidence together it seems that there are no VAR cameras on the Main Stand side of the pitch at St Mirren. All that they had to go on was images from the side of the pitch where the Sky Sports cameras were placed.
Whatever the reasoning the SFA must be concerned about factual decisions being made that are open to question.
The next two weekends feature Glasgow Derbies at Ibrox and Celtic Park.
Similar dubiety over factual decisions would kick up far greater controversy that the fall out from Paisley on Saturday night.
It had seemed in recent years that the linesmen were only really relevant for offside decisions,
but even that role was made obsolete in this game?
Our Scottish brand of match officials just can’t seem to make VAR work ‘competently’.
Mibbees in the years to come, the Scottish ref and match officials can be replaced
with one mobile robot on the pitch – and connected to live AI feeds from various cameras…?
I’d sooner trust a robot than a North Lanarkshire ref… at least it ‘should’ be consistent! 🙂
This is why nothing will ever get done,Martin brushes VAR decisions under the carpet,
So they can keep pushing and shiting on us from a great height,rub it in,and we do F**K all,again.
We do more greetin than a Christmas card about these decisions,we put up with,so you say we say we deserve it.