Celtic have every right to feel completely robbed after the latest VAR Review exposed a stunning officiating error during their defeat to Hibernian.
The controversy unfolded in dramatic fashion. Less than a minute after VAR intervened to send off Auston Trusty, officials were faced with another huge call — one that could have changed everything. Despite clear signs of a foul on Liam Scales inside the box, no penalty was given, and incredibly, referee Matthew MacDermid wasn’t even told to review the incident on the monitor.
Now, with the VAR audio finally released, the decision looks even worse.
During the review, VAR officials Grant Irvine and Ross Hardie initially described the incident in a way that strongly suggested a penalty should be awarded.
Irvine can clearly be heard stating that Scales had been held and that there was sufficient contact — exactly the kind of situation that normally leads to an on-field review.
But then, in a baffling twist, everything changed.
After a brief discussion — and even an acknowledgment that there was a hold — there was a noticeable pause before Irvine suddenly concluded: “Not enough for me.” Just like that, Celtic’s appeals were dismissed, and play continued.
It’s a staggering outcome, especially considering the officials themselves had already identified the foul.
The controversy didn’t end there. On the official review programme, refereeing chief Willie Collum openly admitted the decision was wrong. He confirmed that the referee should have been sent to the pitchside monitor — and that a penalty would have been awarded if the incident had been properly reviewed.
That admission will do little to ease the anger among Celtic supporters.
At a crucial stage in a tightly contested title race, the impact of that moment cannot be overstated. Already reduced to ten men, a penalty could have completely shifted the outcome. Convert it, and Celtic likely grind out a 2-1 victory under pressure.
Instead, they were left chasing the game — and ultimately paid the price as Hibernian snatched a late winner.
It felt like a shocking decision in real time. Now, with the audio laid bare, it looks even more indefensible.
