VAR CONTROVERSY: Former SFA Grade 1 referees Des Roache gave his verdict on the Kyogo Furuhashi goal that was ruled out against Rangers

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic team grew their lead over Rangers at the top of the table with a win over them over the weekend. The game was mostly peaceful.

Rangers couldn’t keep up with Celtic’s fast and good attack, so it was clear that Celtic was the better team.

John Beaton, the match judge, didn’t have to show any red cards even though both teams committed 23 fouls.

The Rangers coach, Alex Rae, was one of the five Rangers players who were booked. Four Celtic players were also booked.

In terms of rules, the game went off without much trouble. But two former SFA referees didn’t seem pleased with how VAR was used to make a decision during the one big battle.

Kyogo’s goal was called offside by VAR, which was “baffling.” In their podcast Behind The Whistles, former SFA Grade 1 refs Des Roache and Steve Conroy talk about the standards of refereeing in Scotland.

And on their X social media account, they shared this opinion about how Kyogo Furuhashi’s goal against Rangers should have been called offside by VAR based on the pictures from Celtic Park.

It said, “As we’ve said with all of these stupid crayon lines.” Too many bad views. We should trust Hawkeye’s straight line even if it seems very off because of the pitch. The Hawkeye part is now “calibrated.” The lines that connect are put on by hand. It’s taken off the “sleeve line.”

“The lines should go across the pitch from the sleeve line to the calibrated target line.” The picture given makes it look like the down line off the Rangers player is drawn at an angle to the goal line.

“But from a diagonal angle, you can’t tell if it’s right or wrong.” Some of the things they’ll say are the angles of the arms to the target line that runs across the field. Because we are customers, we should be given strong proof.

“That picture by itself doesn’t say anything.” It’s not the first time this has happened, and it won’t be the last. It’s still hard for me to understand why we can’t have a side on view. This is just one more example of our tin pot business.

VAR keeps getting in the way of Celtic’s plans.

No one is ever happy about VAR, but it seems to be always getting in the way for Celtic. It’s not a surprise.

Since Celtic attacks so much, it makes sense that technology will be used in their games more than other teams in the league.

Last season, the lack of consistency was a big problem, and the angle that was used to call Kyogo’s goal off has only added to the confusion and debate.

Unfortunately, this questionable decision didn’t hurt Celtic that day; they won easily. But it could happen again, like it did against Hearts last season, and Willie Collum, the head of referees, will have to answer tough questions.