Celtic fans have faced contentious VAR decisions since the SFA implemented the technology in October 2022.
Designed to reduce refereeing mistakes, VAR provides officials with an opportunity to review and correct their initial decisions.
Celtic’s 4-0 victory over Motherwell was overshadowed by two VAR decisions at Celtic Park, sparking debate over whether wingers Hyunjun Yang and Daizen Maeda should have been awarded penalties.
The referee awarded a penalty for a foul on Yang, while the incident involving Maeda was deemed accidental, resulting in no action. Discussing officiating, Luke McCowan shared his views on VAR and referees, particularly when teams play at Parkhead.
Celtic’s Luke McCowan has expressed his desire for VAR to ensure “the decisions are right for football.”
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said, “It causes a lot of delays, especially when teams visit Celtic Park. I experienced it firsthand when I played here with Dundee. You want the game to flow smoothly, but sometimes it doesn’t, which isn’t ideal.”
McCowan added, “It’s not just VAR at times; it’s also how the referee manages the game. The delays are the main downside to VAR. Sometimes, it feels like it takes five or ten minutes just to turn the TV on!”
McCowan concluded, “It’s not my place to say whether VAR is working or not. It’s part of the game now, so we just have to go along with it and hope it gets the decisions right for football.”
VAR continues to be a significant factor in Celtic’s season. Recently, the KMI panel reviewed the penalty decision against Motherwell at Celtic Park and unanimously agreed that the referee was correct to award the spot-kick for the foul on Yang.
Memories of the penalty controversy during the Celtic vs. Rangers League Cup final also linger, with debates still ongoing following Celtic’s Hampden victory.
FIFA is reportedly planning VAR reforms aimed at streamlining the technology to ensure decisions are fair and accurate worldwide. Until then, mistakes are likely to persist, as inconsistencies in how rules are interpreted remain an issue for the SFA and referees. More “honest mistakes” may occur before the season concludes.
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