Former referees criticise VAR process after Celtic goal ruled out against Rangers

Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C. played out a dramatic Old Firm clash last Sunday, but much of the discussion afterwards centred on a controversial VAR decision.

Two former referees have questioned the way VAR was used when a Celtic goal was ruled out during the match.

The game itself ended 0–0 after 120 minutes in the Scottish Cup quarter-final, with Celtic eventually winning 4–2 on penalties. However, the contest was overshadowed by chaotic scenes after the final whistle when supporters from both sides entered the pitch.

Disallowed Celtic goal sparks debate

During the game, Celtic thought they had taken the lead when Daizen Maeda headed home following a flick-on from Liam Scales.

After a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside as Scales was judged to have been in an offside position before assisting the move.

Although many observers accepted that the final decision may have been correct, former referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy criticised the process used to reach that conclusion.

Speaking on Ref’s View, Roache questioned the camera angles and the offside lines used in the review.

He explained that while Scales returning from an offside position is not automatically an offence, the moment he headed the ball toward Maeda he became directly involved in the play. Despite agreeing with the outcome, Roache felt the quality of the VAR graphics raised concerns about standards.

Calls for better VAR implementation

Conroy was even more outspoken, suggesting the current system in Scottish football lacks consistency.

He argued that fans and pundits are often left guessing because the technology is not always presented clearly, adding that the sport should adopt a more comprehensive version of VAR rather than what he described as a “watered-down” approach.

Pundits also question the review

Former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart, who was working as a pundit for Premier Sports during the match, also raised doubts about the VAR visuals shown in the stadium.

Stewart explained that from the broadcast monitor it was difficult to clearly see whether the offside lines had been placed correctly. He suggested the line should perhaps have been drawn from the shoulder of the deepest Rangers defender, which appeared to be slightly behind the point used in the review.

Despite believing Scales was probably still offside, Stewart admitted the images did little to remove uncertainty.

VAR debate continues in Scottish football

The incident has once again reignited debate about VAR implementation in Scottish football, with critics arguing that the technology should provide clarity rather than create further confusion in high-profile matches like the Old Firm derby.