If there is any club in world football that will benefit from the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, it is Celtic – in my opinion. Other opinions are possible. Refereeing is wide open to interpretation by fallible officials and is seldom consistent.
In my football supporting life, countless shoves in the box have been viewed as a penalty, or not. The 2005 penalty at Tynecastle, when Rangers needed a late goal, springs to mind as quickly as the offside goal Newco ‘scored’ at Hampden on Sunday. Then there’s the 1993 Douglas Hope decision, to allow Rangers to take kick off while 8 Celtic players were celebrating a goal in front of the Jungle. Technically not a VAR issue, but a demonstration of what can happen without appropriate supervision.
VAR does not remove mistakes, honest or otherwise, however, it will make them significantly less likely. When it is introduced to the Scottish Premiership in December, it will change the way we celebrate goals. At the moment, I often glance at the linesman as a goal celebration starts, to check his flag is pointing in the right direction. Only then can there be certainty. From December, we will need to wait, often for several minutes, to find out if a goal has actually been scored.
The biggest impact of VAR will be as a deterrent. Defenders will learn to stop grabbing shirts inside the box, off the ball incidents should quickly dry up, talent should be allowed to flourish. Teams that learn this quickly will be first to benefit.
Yesterday’s decision feels momentous for the future of the game in Scotland.
The Comments Section
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Racist fake moniker,aw diddums
Is it 2 years since team racist galloway came on the blog comparing the Scottish Government with Romania’s Ceaucescus regime.that got a lot of repetition,while posting nothing of Celtic and nothing of Brexitracist hero and liar that is Boris.
Is it 2 years since racist team galloway came on the blog announcing they heard the snp had to much say on a Celtic blog that got a lot of repitition,nearly a thick white papers worth,not a word about Celtic and nothing about the Brexitracist liar that is Boris
is it 2 years since team racist galloway came on the blog repetitiously posting of covid deaths in the early part of covid pertaining only to Scotland,but not England,Wales or NI.weaponizing covid solely for political purposes,Scots death murder,no comment of Boris,no chat of Celtic
So you confirm its 2 years,as huns,unionists,brexit racists,Anti vaxers have been on a Celtic blog disrupting it.that is about right I would say.Pity tho Celts see thro contrarian attention seeking pish,good to get a top6 finish,green brigade pro board guff,or in your guise of team racist galloway you go on bout that £49,
Butt butt butt,when asked of their own racism,
Team racist galloway voice support of the racist on a Celtic blog.push the oar racist.
Why would you as a human do that?
You know instead offering the hand of rescue
You would take the oar and push them away.
Grandstanding like nikla.i called you racist for your post in support of refugees being impeded by rescue services…but no answer.nothing of Celtic and nothing of your Brexitracist liar boris
So Racist fake moniker asking yourself of refugees
Is now grandstanding like wee nicola,
How many did I take in? How very woke!!
Push that oar hard,still nothing of Celtic,still nothing of Brexitracist hero and liar Boris.
I thought your George Galloway is the centre of the enigmatron post while back would be a lot closer to what you post above.true and sad pathos.he leads himself,only himself and nothing but himself but nothing about Celtic and no criticism of Boris the brexitracist hero and liar
Coaching to add to your paranoia! Not needed
Some kindhearted Kellyboard,some thieves att21,000!
Managed to type with pencils sellotaped to my elbows
As my fingers are in my ears,you know my thinking racist fake moniker,unchanged. Still nothing of Celtic and nothing on Brexitracist hero and liar Boris.
MILD COLONIAL BHOY @ 3:54
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Lots of good points raised.
The paranoia on here has to be seen to be believed. There are examples where VAR would have ruled against us this season and would have cost us precious points – you cite Kyogo v Hearts, CCV(shirt pull) v Rangers is another. Had those decisions gone against us, we’d be sitting with a one-point lead, rather than a six-point one. It’s not all a ‘one way street’.
We are abused and treated as second class citizens at times in Scotland…..but only the smallest fraction, if any, ever happens on a football field.
For the record, we weren’t good enough at Hampden, that’s why we lost.
I really do hope that the comments of Hatate do not come as a surprise to the Celtic medical staff and Ange and that they are aware of his fatigue.
Mild Colonial Bhoy,
You may well be right in all your observations but your conclusion that Celtic would be behind in the league omits 1 (imo) overriding factor: the multiple decisions that the Old Firm benefitted from. How many points would they be now on? Quite a few less, I’m sure. By the bye, I’m sure there would have been quite a few decisions that would have been overturned and given Celtic more points, such as the goal we were denied at Tynecastle in the first game of the season.
Paranoid: we are not paranoid enough.
The upside of losing to the huns is that the players will be in a better frame of mind for the Ross County game.
VAR can be effective, but not always.
Knowing that, my problem with VAR in Scotland, for Celtic, will be that as there are supposed to be fewer refereeing errors left uncorrected, each uncorrected or misunderstood error will, consequently, have a higher tariff as other honest mistakes will be corrected.
I see in the Herald that Morton were the only SPFL club to vote against the introduction of VAR in Scotland, or the SPL. Interesting that they are now a supporter owned club and that that fact has influenced their decision as in, paraphrasing here, VAR to some extent diminishes the actual experience while watching the game. The experience of VAR in the EPL over the last couple of seasons would support that view, as highlighted time and time again on MOTD. Some of the worst decisions have in fact been made by video editors hundreds of miles away from the action on the pitch. Not to say that some of the worst decisions on the pitch, the clear and obvious errors, would not benefit from a second look, but that could be done locally, at the ground itself, which is sometimes what happens after the fact in the EPL. Well done Morton for taking the contrary view.
4th officials in Scotland worry me more often than the ref. How often did mclean give madhun a steer on Sunday or comforted his bias decisions by validating it? Happens alot imo.
Hopefully var will reduce their input which is silent to us. Bt discuss with in house referee.
Really wish bt got our contract again!
Why 3 times have I experienced your censorship Paul?
Can I have an explanation? You have my email
I contrasted a posters racism as covid raged throughout the UK,a racism unique to Scotland for him and his weaponizing ilk,as people died left right and centre throughout the uk in hospitals.
Not one post deleted,but now you are censoring me.
Racism is not contested and refugees are not our problem.
As requested in 2 and 3.an explanation please
HH
My friends in Celtic,
I think its fair to say VAR has caused as much controversy as it has solved. However since its introduction 4 years ago a lot of teething issues have been ironed out with a dose of common sense added.
We are not introducing a new concept, it is an established part of modern football now. Of course there will be new innovation, but VAR is the future of top class football and it is here to stay.
It is really not feasible long term to have VAR for our European games but not domestically.
Like everything else we have to adapt to change or be left behind and pay the consequences.
Technology does not sleep.
Our stadium needs a facelift, especially the South Stand. I do not see a need to add additional capacity. The future will be VR season tickets for our waiting list. All the effect of being at the game but sitting in the comfort of your living room.
Change in technology, mindset and attitude is the future. We must embrace it.
HH, to the futuristic journey.
I’d rather have neutral and unbiased referees than VAR.
Ernie,
I can’t categorically remember.
When foreign referees were drafted in during the strike. How did they perform.?
Were there any contentious decisions, in particular affecting Celtic ?
Generally was it an improvement?
HH.
With the online communication speeds there is no reason for VAR to be done remotely by truely independent officials. This would remove all notions of bias. Unless that is they sent them to Ireland.
should read VAR not to be done remotely
Gp
Var has caused a lot of problems in intro I agree,
However it would be foolish not to learn from the intro problems as other.
Technology will only be as good as how it is defined and interpreted in use,and then how that is communicated to us.
All communication from refs/linesman/4th official and the wee room in Larkhall should be made available to all supporters within an hour of game would be a good idea.why not? Use it,its there.
Maybe an idea with waiting list Gp,the thought of watching on telly is a drag,the live experience rules for me.
HH
An tearmann
The last para of Paul’s leader may give you the answer.
GREENPINATA on 21ST APRIL 2022 9:58 AM
It was a marked improvement.
ERNIE LYNCH on 21ST APRIL 2022 9:48 AM
I’d rather have neutral and unbiased referees than VAR.
Lochaber no more.Ernie.You got to embrace it,
HH
I seem to remember we had a ref from Luxembourg during the referees strop.
Regarding having VAR administered from other countries, I suppose we’d have to consider the respective reporting lines and ref set ups. Could we have professional refs from England (presumably on larger salaries) having oversight of part time scottish refs? Would the same work in reverse?
Much to consider
https://youtu.be/UR9wwqjbO1I
I believe celtic won that day
That’s 4 I would not want in charge of a VAR call right there
HH
Sorry wrong g link
AT,
I like the matchday experience. Love the banter in the pub, the expectation and the atmosphere.
Love the sing songs and the discussions post game.
There is no doubt that technology will eventually see VR season tickets go on sale. Perfect for fans who love the match atmosphere but possibly struggle with mobility issues . Perfect for ex pats etc.
Not for me, yet but I bet Big Jimmy would love one. 😆
I can visualise a club in Auckland for example all watching a game together in VR.
But until then, one step at a time and we need to upgrade our Wi fi at Parkhead.
Cheers and HH.
“ERNIE LYNCH on 21ST APRIL 2022 9:48 AM
I’d rather have neutral and unbiased referees than VAR.”
You took the words right out of my mouth.
BatoutofhellCSC
MARTIN O’SEVILLE on 21ST APRIL 2022 3:49 AM
The 1988 Dundee game was rather difficult to work out who was to blame?
Was it the police letting too many fans enter the ground?
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I was at the Dundee game in 88; the guys on the turnstiles were holding up the ratchet mechanism as fans paid in to stop the final count being above capacity. Definitely Celtic’s fault
LIONSROAR67
Don’t know about cheating but the Huns have managed to get a bit lucky with the way the fixtures have fallen. Not just our trip to Dingwall first up but their visit to Tynecastle. Normally that would be the one that would give them the hardest away task. If they had been facing Hearts in say the first 3 games then I would expect Hearts to give it a go to keep up momentum and players wanting to stake a claim for the Cup Final. However with their clash being the week before the Final no way will the Jambos be doing anything other than taking it easy to keep themselves for Hampden. The best I think we can hope for in the Huns games v Motherwell, Dundee Utd, Ross County is that the oppositon at least make them work hard and keep the scores down.
I have seen some posts suggesting we would have lost points had VAR been in play this season. Unless I missed it, those posts seemed to ignore any points Old Firm FC might have lost. Strange.
I dont expect Hearts to do any hard shifts between now and cup final.
3rd place is assured, europe is secured, they cant get any more prize money or places, they have nothing to play for. even cup final places, i am sure neilson knows his team.
contrarian, i actually think hertz will give it their all in the cup final, because all the pressure will be on the zombie blue meanies.
I’m with Ernie on VAR. I would much rather have an unbiased referee and take my chances with his honest decisions. That’s the way I have always enjoyed my football. It’s indeed a shame that here in Scotland so called honest mistakes are often prompted by a referee’s deep-seated bias.
SAINT STIVS on 21ST APRIL 2022 10:44 AM
On the other hand, is being tension free a helpful thing?
When Celtic play European games, I sometimes think the Ref has made a mistake. I very seldom feel the Ref has been biased. In Scotland, I have seen very few games (involving Celtic) where I thought the Ref was fair throughout the game.
GENE on 21ST APRIL 2022 10:05 AM
An tearmann
The last para of Paul’s leader may give you the answer.
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Thank you Gene,hadn’t seen that before as I don’t read to many headers since LNS.
Racism is now welcome,Refugees can go drown
It appears sadly now.
it was real hard Gene coming in off wards and reading that mindless stuff,that’s why my opposition to his weaponization of death was virulent.be it anti Scots,Irish,eng or welsh.its all abhorrent.
Back to Celtic my friend.
HH
I’ve been so far offline this week I’m only just hearing about Maloney. Walked or sacked?
Not even a summer to make his mark? I find it incredible
ROBERTTRESSELL on 21ST APRIL 2022 11:01 AM
Sacked.
Greenpinata
I can never get a signal in the ground!
HH
…..and I am about to walk.
Cheerio for now.
It’s in Celtic Hands to go and clinch the league title nobody else ,starting up in Dingwall on Sunday,a couple on here mentioning the South Stand needing upgraded ,well I can tell them with the present miserable B———s,in the Celtic Board it won’t happen,F—-s since Celtic Park was redeveloped and that wasn’t yesterday)Them Girders and Beams and Structures are all rusty which badly need looked at ,and like myself and many others want the Main Stand upgraded , they can’t even give the whole stadium a lick of paint .
Celtic by Numbers has been doing an honest mistakes monitor this season with observations from a neutral source. The suggested difference shown is nowhere near as big as i had supposed it would be. I think VAR will not be a huge factor. Some wins from it for us, some losses. Over the piece though, little difference.
Roberttressell…i’m not really surprised Maloney has been given the heave-ho. Having watched Hibs and listened to the post-match contributions from Shaun, I think it was inevitable. I just don’t think he has managerial makeup. He was assistant to Martinez who is another whom I believe has good ideas but who is not the full managerial package, otherwise Belgium, with the top quality players at their disposal would surely have made their mark and won at least the European championship. It takes something a wee bit special to be a top coach. Malky MacKay could possibly be a good fit for Hibs next season.