The fallout from Sunday’s explosive Old Firm derby is showing no signs of slowing down after Sky Sports issued a major clarification regarding the controversial tackle involving Alistair Johnston and Rangers youngster Mikey Moore.
What was already one of the most heated moments of Celtic’s dramatic 3-1 win over Rangers has now turned into a full-scale VAR debate, with supporters on both sides arguing over whether Johnston should have seen a straight red card.
The challenge, which came late in the first half at Celtic Park, instantly divided opinion across Scottish football. Referee Nick Walsh produced only a yellow card after Johnston slid in on Moore during a tense period of the match.
At the time, the score was locked at 1-1 after Rangers had stunned the home crowd early through Moore before Celtic responded through Yang Hyun-Jun. The game was already boiling over with crunching tackles, aggressive pressing, and the typical chaos associated with an Old Firm derby.
But it was Johnston’s challenge that completely stole the spotlight.
Slow-motion replays shown during Sky Sports’ coverage appeared to show the Celtic defender catching Moore high on the ankle with his studs. Rangers supporters immediately erupted online, insisting the challenge endangered the winger and should have resulted in a sending-off.
The controversy intensified after Sky Sports’ “Ref Watch” discussion suggested the VAR officials may not initially have had access to all available camera angles during their review of the incident.
That sparked accusations of VAR incompetence and fresh criticism of officiating standards in Scottish football.
However, Sky Sports Scotland has now moved to clarify the situation publicly.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the broadcaster confirmed that VAR officials DID have access to every angle of the incident from the beginning.
The statement read:
> “Following analysis on Ref Watch, Sky Sports can clarify that all angles of Alistair Johnston’s tackle on Mikey Moore were available to VAR during Sunday’s Old Firm clash.”
That clarification changes the entire narrative surrounding the incident.
The issue is no longer whether the VAR team missed key footage — but whether they simply believed the tackle did not meet the threshold for serious foul play.
According to the officials, the yellow card shown by Walsh was deemed sufficient after a full review.
That decision has only added more fuel to the fire.
Former referees and pundits remain split. Some argued the tackle clearly endangered Moore and warranted a red card, while others insisted the contact looked worse in slow motion than it did in real time.
Several analysts pointed out that Johnston appeared to make contact while sliding across Moore’s path rather than driving directly through the player with excessive force.
Even so, Rangers supporters were furious.
Many felt the decision changed the momentum of the match, especially considering Celtic went on to dominate the second half with Daizen Maeda scoring twice — including a stunning overhead kick that instantly became one of the standout moments of the Scottish season.
For Rangers fans, however, the focus remained fixed on the challenge.
Social media exploded after the match, with clips of the tackle spreading rapidly across X, Facebook, and fan forums. Calls for greater VAR transparency quickly followed, while criticism of Scottish refereeing standards once again dominated headlines.
The incident also placed the spotlight firmly on young Rangers star Moore.
The teenage winger has emerged as one of the brightest talents in Scottish football this season, and his fearless performance in such a high-pressure derby further boosted his growing reputation. Thankfully for Rangers, Moore was able to continue after the challenge despite visible discomfort.
Meanwhile, Johnston escaped further punishment and completed the match without additional disciplinary issues.
The controversy now adds another chapter to the never-ending debate surrounding VAR in Scottish football.
Since its introduction, the technology has repeatedly faced criticism over inconsistent interpretations, communication problems, and controversial decisions in major matches. And in fixtures as emotionally charged as Celtic vs Rangers, every refereeing call becomes magnified.
This latest drama also highlights the growing influence of broadcast analysis in modern football. One replay angle, one slowed-down clip, or one pundit opinion can completely shape the public reaction within minutes.
But despite Sky Sports clarifying that all footage was available to officials, the debate itself is far from over.
Some believe Johnston was fortunate to stay on the pitch.
Others argue football is becoming overly dependent on freeze-frames and slow-motion analysis that distort the reality of challenges made at full speed.
What nobody can deny is that the incident became one of the defining moments of another unforgettable Old Firm derby.
And as the Scottish Premiership title race heads toward a dramatic finish, tensions between both clubs — and their supporters — look set to rise even further.
