Whenever Celtic faces Rangers in a Glasgow Derby, controversy and drama are never far behind. The first meeting of the season saw a Rangers goal rightfully disallowed due to a foul on Gustaf Lagerbielke by Cyriel Dessers. The 2-1 victory for Rangers at Celtic Park was marred by a red card for Leon Balogun, sparking further debate. The 3-3 draw at Ibrox was overshadowed by a controversial penalty awarded to Rangers after a dive by Fabio Silva.
In the most recent match, tensions were high as John Lundstam saw red and Celtic was awarded a penalty in the second half after a challenge by Mohamed Diomande. Referee Willie Collum pointed to the spot, and despite VAR urging a review, the decision stood. Player O’Riley expressed confusion over the delay in the decision, believing the penalty to be clear-cut.
Although the penalty was ultimately saved by Jack Butland, the use of VAR in the match raised concerns about its effectiveness in Scottish football. Calls for better training and utilization of VAR technology by the SFA have been made to prevent similar controversies in the future. The impact of VAR on the enjoyment and outcomes of games in the Scottish Premiership remains a contentious issue that needs to be addressed.
