Brendan Rodgers Challenges VAR's Role in Celtic's Defeat
The Celtic faithful have found themselves questioning the role of VAR after a weekend of drama on the pitch. In an intense match against Hibernian, Celtic suffered a rare domestic loss, with manager Brendan Rodgers openly questioning the decision-making process behind VAR’s controversial call. At the heart of the conflict was Daizen Maeda's goal, which was initially approved by the on-field referee, only to be overturned by VAR. This decision marked a significant turning point in the match, ending with a narrow 2-1 defeat for Celtic.
Rodgers pointed out the lack of conclusive evidence to overturn the referee's decision, arguing that VAR official Alan Muir was working with limited camera angles, effectively equating the call to a 'guess.' Despite their frustrations, Celtic still dominates the Scottish Premiership, holding a comfortable 13-point lead.
The Bigger Picture: VAR and Its Consequences
This isn't the first time VAR has come under fire within the league. The contentious disallowing of Maeda’s goal adds to a growing list of questionable VAR decisions. Rodgers reminded fans and officials of a similar incident at Motherwell, where a clear penalty against Maeda was denied, further stirring skepticism around the technology.
The Scottish FA's Key Match Incidents Panel is now tasked with reviewing the incident. With the spotlight on VAR's potential shortcomings, many are eager to see how they address the situation, especially with VAR coordinator Willie Collum expected to provide insights in an upcoming broadcast. As debates about VAR reliability continue, Rodgers and his squad focus on maintaining their lead and looking ahead to future matches.
