Celtic’s dominance was clear to see as Rangers couldn’t live with the pace and quality of the Hoops attack.
Match referee, John Beaton, didn’t need to brandish any red cards despite 23 fouls being committed combined by both teams.
However, four Celtic players were booked and five from Rangers went into the book including coach, Alex Rae.
So in terms of discipline, the game passed without much controversy. But when it came to the one big flashpoint, the application of VAR to come to a decision seems to have left two former SFA referees unimpressed.
The ‘baffling’ VAR decision to rule Kyogo’s goal offside
Former SFA Grade 1 referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy air their views on refereeing standards in Scotland in their Behind The Whistles podcast.
And through their social media account on X, they posted this view on Kyogo Furuhashi‘s goal against Rangers being ruled offside by VAR by the pictures provided at Celtic Park.
The multi-post said, “As we’ve said with all of these daft crayon lines. And poor camera angles. We are to just accept that Hawkeye gives a straight line even if looks way off by the pitch. The Hawkeye aspect is “calibrated”. The attaching lines are applied by hand. They draw it off the “sleeve line”.
“The lines should attach from the sleeve line down to the calibrated target line across the pitch. From the image provided, it appears the down line off the Rangers player is being drawn at an angle to the target line.
“But it’s not possible from a diagonal angle to assess it’s right or wrong. They will say there are factors such as the angles of the arms to the target line that’s going across the pitch. As consumers, we should be provided with conclusive evidence.
“That image on its own is inconclusive. It’s not the first and it won’t be the last. Just another example of our tin pot operation, still baffling in this day and age why we can’t have a side on view.”
VAR continues to be a thorn in Celtic’s side
VAR is never without controversy but for Celtic, it seems to be a constant thorn in their side. And it’s little wonder.
Celtic do that much attacking it makes sense that the refereeing technology will be more involved in their games than others in the league.
The lack of consistency was a big bugbear last season and looking at the angle that was used to nullify Kyogo’s goal has only caused more controversy and confusion.
Thankfully, this apparent contentious decision didn’t cost Celtic on the day as they ran out comfortable winners but it could, as it did against Hearts last season, one of these days it may well and Head of Referees, Willie Collum will have difficult questions to answer.
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