VAR CONTROVERSY: “Questionable” – How Mohamed Diomande took down Celtic 23-year-old midfielder Matt O’Riley 51st minute of the match vs Rangers

Willie Collum gave a penalty in the 51st minute, even though Mohamed Diomande clearly clipped Matt O’Riley. VAR looked into the call.

The review took four minutes all together, and Collum was sent to the monitor to look over his first choice.

In the video below, you can see O’Riley trying to play a through ball, but Diomande makes contact with him, stopping him from making the pass. Diomande falls to the ground with his foot far from the ball because of the contact.

To put it simply, O’Riley can play a pass in the Rangers box if Diomande doesn’t make touch. This is a foul, so there is a penalty.

And Collum made the right choice by going with the penalty award. But it’s not clear why VAR even looked at the penalty award in the first place; there was no clear mistake in the decision.

Without a doubt, the long time it took to review the ruling hurt O’Riley, who missed the penalty and Jack Butland made the save.

But it’s hard to believe that Steven McLean felt the need to send Collum to question himself in the first place, especially since Celtic fans at the game and watching from home didn’t know what McLean saw.

Without a doubt, the long time it took to review the ruling hurt O’Riley, who missed the penalty and Jack Butland made the save.

But it’s hard to believe that Steven McLean felt the need to send Collum to question himself in the first place, especially since Celtic fans at the game and watching from home didn’t know what McLean saw.

🍀 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙮

Celtic have all but secured the #cinchPrem title with a victory over 10-man Rangers ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Sq6MOOQNBt

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 11, 2024

➡️ Willie Collum stuck with his decision

This is what the penalty was given for after a VAR check ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qo6QcRdZlA

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 11, 2024

🍀 “It’s three victories we’ve had against Rangers and that shows that mentality in the big games.”

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers on the Old Firm win over Rangers. Watch more analysis and reaction LIVE on @SkyFootball 📺 pic.twitter.com/O1KxZJtqm4

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 11, 2024