Pundits’ consternation as Celtic get once in a blue moon VAR break

The Celtic Star

·4 March 2025

Pundits’ consternation as Celtic get once in a blue moon VAR break

Michael Stewart was stunned that VAR chose not to intervene in St Mirren’s penalty appeal against Celtic over the weekend…

Referee Matthew MacDermid. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

As Saturday evening’s Scottish Premiership encounter in Paisley hung in the balance at 3-2 in favour of the visitors, Alistair Johnston seemed to catch Roland Idowu on the ankle inside the box after getting a touch on the ball.

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Referee Matthew MacDermid allowed play to continue waving away any suggestions of a penalty with Andrew Dallas on VAR at Clydesdale House supporting the on-field decision. Shortly after the controversial incident, Daizen Maeda and Hyun-jun Yang found the net for Brendan Rodgers’ side, sealing a 5-2 victory for Celtic at a tough away venue.

Daizen Maeda celebrates. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Discussing the incident on Sportscene, Stewart expressed his disbelief over the flashpoint while fellow pundits Steven Thompson and Cammy weighed in on Johnston’s challenge. Thompson said: “This penalty that wasn’t given – we’ve looked at it and I’d love someone to tell me why it’s not a penalty. Maybe you can.”

'It's a chasm' 😬 Neil Lennon on the gap between Celtic and Rangers ⤵️ #BBCFootball
– Monday, 3 March 2025

Bell responded: “And certainly at the stage of the game that it was, 3-2 to Celtic. That for me is why this is such a big incident. I can’t see why VAR hasn’t intervened and given the penalty.”

‘It’s a stonewaller for me’

“It’s a stonewaller for me; he doesn’t touch the ball and goes clean through – that’s a dangerous challenge.”

Stewart added: “I’m just laughing. It’s crazy. You saw the penalty in the first half [for Celtic]that was a penalty kick. But there was more contact in this one. I’m lost for words – I don’t understand why VAR hasn’t looked at it.”

A wee rub of the green for Celtic from the folks on VAR, who would have thought it? A cynic might reckon it was a response to Alan Muir’s skullduggery at Easter Road the previous week in an incident also involving Alistair Johnston when the VAR guessed that the ball was out of play to rule out a Celtic equaliser.

Brendan Rodgers. Hibs v Celtic. 22 February 2025.Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Maybe they didn’t fancy yet more controversy but two wrongs certainly don’t make a right and it certainly looked like a penalty to St Mirren.

Conor Spence

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Pundits’ consternation as Celtic get once in a blue moon VAR break | OneFootball