NafisaCeltic supporters have been left furious after the SPFL backed the controversial VAR decision to allow Hibernian’s equaliser to stand at Easter Road, despite growing claims that the goal should never have counted in the first place.
The fallout from last weekend’s dramatic clash in Edinburgh has continued to intensify ahead of Sunday’s massive Old Firm showdown against Rangers, with many fans now questioning how the decision was allowed to stand after multiple former referees publicly stated the goal should have been ruled out for handball.
The flashpoint came midway through the second half when Joe Newell bundled home for Hibs after the ball appeared to strike his arm before crossing the line. Replays shown repeatedly after the match only added more controversy, with many viewers convinced the contact was obvious enough for VAR to intervene.
Instead, after a lengthy review, the goal was awarded.
Referee David Dickinson was never sent to the pitchside monitor, while VAR official Don Robertson chose not to overturn the decision.
That alone caused major frustration among the Celtic support during the match, but the anger has only grown stronger after the SPFL later issued an explanation defending the decision and supporting the VAR interpretation.
According to the governing body’s explanation, officials deemed the footage inconclusive enough for the on field decision to remain unchanged.
The response has gone down badly with many supporters, particularly because several former officials and referee analysts have since publicly disagreed with the outcome.
Ex Category 1 referee Des Roache was one of the strongest voices criticising the call.
Speaking after the game, he said:
“It’s a handball, it’s hit his t-shirt line and then it’s rolled down his arm and then it’s come off maybe just above his wrist.
“I think the fact that Joe Newell looked a wee bit sheepish after he scored thinking what’s going to be given here, that’s handball. Yes, it’s hit his t-shirt line but it’s then continued down his arm and he’s then scored from it.
“I know they’ve come out and said it’s not conclusive but that is as conclusive as anything there. That’s a handball, it should never have been a goal.”
The incident was also heavily discussed on Ref Watch style analysis segments following the weekend fixtures, where the consensus again leaned strongly toward the belief that the goal should have been disallowed.
That has only increased the feeling among Celtic supporters that the club were hard done by at a critical stage of the title race.
Adding further fuel to the situation was another major incident later in the match when Benjamin Nygren appeared to be shoved inside the box by Josh Campbell while attempting to keep the ball alive near the byline. Once again, VAR declined to intervene despite loud appeals from Celtic players.
For many fans, the frustration is no longer simply about one decision.
Instead, the anger centres around consistency and accountability, especially when former referees reviewing the same footage continue arriving at completely different conclusions from those reached during the match itself.
Some supporters have even pointed out that had Hibernian still been playing with eleven men at the time of the equaliser, the outcome of the game could have looked very different.
Celtic ultimately managed to regroup and find a winner against ten men despite not producing their strongest display, but many believe the incorrect decision could easily have proven far more damaging in such a tight title race.
The controversy now hangs heavily over Scottish football just days before another enormous Old Firm encounter at Parkhead.
With every point carrying massive significance, scrutiny on officials and VAR decisions has reached another level entirely, and this latest episode has only deepened tensions among supporters already frustrated with the way the system is being operated.
Nafisa
