Incompetent start for VAR

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3-4 wins at Tynecastle are the stuff of legends, games when champions show their credentials.  The excitement, however, took second place to our inaugural appearance in domestic football with a Video Assistant Referee.

After taking an early lead, Celtic lost their way in the first half as Hearts pushed for an equaliser.  A minute before the break Cammy Devlin knocked the ball forward an instant before Cameron Carter-Vickers made contact with the Hearts player’s foot.  Referee Nick Walsh missed the contact, which was clear on first viewing of the replay, but the VAR seemed caught in the headlights and took several minutes to advise the ref to take a look at the video monitor.

It was all downhill from there.  Within seconds, James Forrest drove inside the Hearts box but was stopped in his path when Michael Smith’s extended arm stopped the ball inside the box.  This was the classic scenario VAR was supposed to address, a stonewaller by any measure, but fresh from his panic a few moments earlier, the VAR declined to intervene.

Anthony Ralston then scored an excellent headed goal but before the ball crossed the line, Nick Walsh blew for an apparent infringement.  That early whistle meant VAR was unable to act.  It is beyond doubt the referee made a mistake in blowing early, for my take, the goal should have stood.

Now we get to the bizarre episode.  At both Hearts penalties, Hearts and Celtic players encroached into the box before the kick was taken.  At the first, the goal stood, at the second, Joe Hart saved and Hearts scored an offside goal in the follow up.

The second penalty was retaken in line with the rules (a retake is the correct decision if players from both sides encroach).  The fist penalty, which results in a Hearts goal, was allowed to stand by the same VAR.  Either both should have been retaken, or as neither affected the outcome, both should have been allowed to stand.

Late in the game, Liel Abada scored what looked to be a good goal, but the assistant referee flagged for offside, confirmed by VAR.  I am not convinced, and broadcaster Sky did viewers a disservice by declining to apply the cross-field lines they used for other decisions during the game.

It was an incompetent start with the new technology that did not reflect well on the SFA or referees.

I don’t want to put ideas in your head, so fee free to choose any one of the 5 million Slovaks, but which of them does Reo Hatate most remind you of?

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338 Comments

  1. 31003

     

     

    I agree we would have complained about cheating when it has happened in the past

     

     

    I also think we should complain about the bizarre fouling/possession stat anomaly at present.

     

     

    But, I think that we should get clear cut evidence of VAR cheating before we complain about VAR. This first week has not provided decisive evidence.

  2. CELTICROLLERCOASTER SUPPORTING THE WALK WITH SHAY LEGACY FUND on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 7:47 PM

     

    Can we dust down the ole dossier we had on the refs 😆?

     

     

     

    HH

     

     

     

    CRC

     

     

    Those were the days…..aaaahhhh

  3. Tom McLaughlin on

    LIONROARS67

     

    A goal was scored Tom, it was referred to VAR

     

    What am I missing

     

     

    It didn’t go to VAR. See my previous post at 7:11.

  4. STFB

     

    I only can go by what Walsh saw, also I am going by the slo mo that I saw as well, the way you are saying it is that CCV was miles away from the ball, there was a split second in the challenge, and he did NOT see a pen, had he seen anything that was a smigin of a pen he would have given it as well you know.

  5. TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 7:52 PM

     

     

    It didn’t go to VAR. See my previous post at 7:11.

     

     

    Fair enough Tom, how do you know VAR didn’t review, three men and a dog involved ok sorry three men and a ref

  6. CELTICROLLERCOASTER SUPPORTING THE WALK WITH SHAY LEGACY FUND on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 7:47 PM

     

     

    Can we dust down the ole dossier we had on the refs 😆?

     

     

    How did that work out ? cost labour a seat

  7. Walsh has a clear unimpeded view of both players but the ball is on the other side of Devlin- he cannot see where CCV and Devlin connect and where the ball is. By not blowing for a pen (where VAR would review automatically). He must have thought it was not a pen at first. Only the slow mo replay and Bro. McLean convinced him he was wrong. A truly biased ref would have given it and worried about VAR later.

     

     

    Anyway we won, and we will soon have plenty of evidence for VAR’s incompetence and/or cheating.

     

     

    The major bad VAR decision at the weekend was not giving Well a penalty for a blatant pull on Lamie’s jersey. Sometimes the ref does not spot these- so it may not have been cheating- but, if VAR replayed it I doubt that they would not have failed to award a penalty and a possible equaliser

  8. CELTICROLLERCOASTER SUPPORTING THE WALK WITH SHAY LEGACY FUND on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 7:47 PM

     

    Can we dust down the ole dossier we had on the refs 😆?

     

     

     

     

     

     

    HH

     

     

     

     

     

     

    CRC

     

     

    ——————–

     

     

    Should you no be sleeping or prepping for the presentation… a big two days ahead old yin…..

     

     

    See you soon….. are we still counting the planes 🍻✈️🤣

  9. bournesouprecipe on

    BADA BING!! on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 7:23 PM

     

     

    There’s enough on here defending the cheating on Saturday…..

     

     

    “…………………………….

     

     

    Post of the day IMO

  10. Looking at the stonewalled again…..did Walsh actually award the penalty?…..or did he just stop play to allow McLean to decide if it was a penalty? If that’s the case that is so wrong.

  11. Tom McLaughlin on

    SAINT STIVS

     

     

    Looking at that clip, the 4th official looks embarrassed at the decision.

  12. Tom McLaughlin on

    BSR

     

    BADA BING!! on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 7:23 PM

     

    There’s enough on here defending the cheating on Saturday…..

     

    “…………………………….

     

    Post of the day IMO

     

     

    There’s always two.

  13. The foul count between us the hun and our opposition , over 10 games ( I’ve missed one can’t be ersed going back and checking ) is nearly even for both teams . Us 116

     

    opponents 110 , Huns 114 ,opponents 130 .Yellow count we are the lowest with 13 ,our opponents 28 , Huns 24 their opponents 28 . Reds us 1 Huns 2 both lots of opponents 2 each

     

     

    ‘re the possession / foul count thing , that’s a different ball game 😁

     

     

    ========

     

     

    The above could be right / wrong I’ve had an oldtim 67 sized gin 😜

  14. Celticrollercoaster supporting The Walk With Shay Legacy Fund on

    Marspapa

     

     

    On train. Still 2 hours to get to destination

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  15. boondock saint on

    I watched the game in my classroom at 6:30 am by meself on Saturday as I knew that VAR would piss me off at some point and it wasn’t fair to my wife and 3 ghirls and 1 bhoy to be awoken by an angry Scotsman at 7:15 am. I ended up laughing out loud just like Big Ange, at HT. I mean what did we expect after some of the decisions that we have grown up with. I mean look at Johnny Doyle being sent off for crossing the ball against a ref, remember James Forrest gewtting sent off against Accies at their midden, the Jorge Cadette goal at Ibrokes, etc etc etc. Strap in folks we are in for a bumpy ride, and don’t call me Shirley.

     

    Hail hail.

     

    Sean

  16. Tom McLaughlin on

    SFTB

     

     

    Spot on.

     

     

    But you can’t really blame McLean for the first penalty.

     

     

    The VAR referee can give only 1 of 3 options to the referee:

     

     

    It’s a penalty.

     

     

    It’s not a penalty.

     

     

    Go and check the monitor.

  17. lets all do the huddle on

    But, I think that we should get clear cut evidence of VAR cheating before we complain about VAR. This first week has not provided decisive evidence.

     

     

     

    i dont care whose decision it was not to give the hand ball

     

     

    was it var? was it the ref?

     

     

    it was plain cheating

     

     

    all the other controversial decisions in the game could probably be argued one way or the other

     

     

    not that one

  18. bournesouprecipe on

    TOM MCLAUGHLIN

     

     

    You were cute enough to refuse a ticket for Tynecastle, but you couldn’t escape Celtic VAR inevitably

     

     

    How’s Marie – my ghirl ?

  19. BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 7:42 PM

     

     

    Me too, hated the idea of it from when it was first suggested. But while we all know what a shitshow they’d make of it I did think it would bring a bit more transparency to Scottish football, and I’ve still not abandoned all hope.

     

     

    I think Scottish football has changed over the last 12 years. I think they made a lot of enemies with the way they behaved since they went bust, I don’t think they have the same control over the administration of the game they had before, you only have to look at how hard they’ve been trying to get rid of Doncaster. So I think working with the administrators is far more likely to succeed than previously. Unfortunately we still have the same sort of people involved in the playing, refereeing and media as before. I agree, forget them.

  20. TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 8:14 PM

     

    SFTB

     

     

     

    Spot on.

     

     

     

    But you can’t really blame McLean for the first penalty.

     

     

     

    The VAR referee can give only 1 of 3 options to the referee:

     

     

     

    It’s a penalty.

     

     

     

    It’s not a penalty.

     

     

     

    Go and check the monitor.

     

     

    That is wrong

     

     

    There is only 1 choice…as follows

     

     

    I believe it’s a penalty…..check the monitor

     

    I believe it’s not a penalty…..check the monitor

     

    I agree with your choice…..no need to check the monitor

  21. Tom McLaughlin on 24th October 2022 7:29 pm

     

     

    BADA

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I did clearly explain at the end od my post that I was merely explaining the rules.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    If you see that as “defending the cheating on Saturday” then that’s your problem, not mine.

     

     

    You’re the one with the problem, you said Giakoumakis manhandled 2 Hearts players, then said 1 took a dive…

  22. Commentator says Scammaca

     

    Carragher says Sceemacca

     

    Scammaca, Sceemacca

     

    I’m turning this bloody thing off

  23. MARSPAPA on 24TH OCTOBER 2022 8:36 PM

     

    Who needs trolls 🤣🤣❤️

     

     

    You will have the datestamp polis checking that comment for acceptability (wee smiley face)

  24. TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 18TH OCTOBER 2022 7:47 PM

     

    Fur fox ache can the paranoia brigade just give VAR a chance before they throw in the towel?

  25. Ernie

     

     

    The worst thing about VAR is the outcome of decisions were forecasted correctly by the majority of Celtic fans before the game had even started.

     

    So either….most Celtic fans are Nostradamus, or cheating has always been the norm

     

     

    The choice is yours