The Glasgow Derby that unfolded yesterday will surely go down in history for yet another controversial VAR decision that could have potentially cost Celtic a victory over Rangers.
In a moment that had fans on the edge of their seats, Fabio Silva appeared to have taken a tumble in the Celtic penalty area after a challenge from Alistair Johnston. However, after a meticulous VAR review, referee John Beaton made a surprising U-turn and pointed to the spot, awarding Rangers a penalty kick.
The contentious decision sparked outrage from Chris Sutton, a well-known former Celtic player, who did not hold back in labeling Beaton’s choice as ’embarrassing.’ With the subsequent successful conversion of the penalty, Rangers began to mount an impressive comeback after a first half that had been largely dominated by Celtic.
While the match ultimately ended in a thrilling draw, the predominant talking point following the game was the intrusive role of VAR in influencing the outcome. Former SFA Grade 1 referee, Steve Conroy, voiced his disagreement with the penalty call, firmly asserting that VAR should not have intervened in Beaton’s original decision.
Despite the setback faced by Celtic, they still manage to maintain a narrow one-point lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership table. As the title race enters its final stages, with only six games left to play, the race for the championship remains wide open. With another highly anticipated Glasgow Derby looming in the not-so-distant future, Brendan Rodgers’ side still has a golden opportunity to emerge victorious and cling onto their lead at the top of the table.
