John Collins did not mince his words while on punditry duty after Celtic were denied what looked a stonewall penalty during their 2-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.
The incident arrived in the first half with Celtic already beginning to assert control. As the ball trickled toward the byline, Josh Campbell attempted to shepherd it out, but Benjamin Nygren stayed close and was clearly impeded as the Hibs defender leaned into him.
Play went on. There was no immediate reaction from referee David Dickinson, and although the incident was reviewed, VAR official Don Robertson decided not to intervene.
It proved to be a major turning point in the match. Celtic were on the front foot and had already created a string of openings. A penalty at that stage could easily have shifted the entire rhythm of the contest.
Collins, watching intently as replays were shown, made his stance unmistakably clear.
He said: (BBC Sportsound), “If that goes to VAR, it’ll be a penalty, without a shadow of a doubt.
“Surely the VAR is going to come in here? The referee hasn’t seen it, obviously!
“That’s as blatant a penalty as you will ever see.
“I’ve just watched that on the screen.
“If the VAR have not given that as a penalty, then every single one of them involved should be sacked.
“It’s an absolute shambles.”
The decision is likely to fuel further debate about how VAR is being used in these situations. From Collins’ perspective, the contact was obvious enough to demand a review and a different conclusion.
For Celtic, it was yet another reminder of how fine margins can define matches. Instead of being awarded a chance to take the lead, play continued and Hibs remained in the contest.
That theme reappeared later in the half when Celtic conceded from a set piece. Small incidents, missed calls and moments of hesitation all contributed to a match that never fully settled.
Even with the victory secured, these flashpoints are unlikely to be forgotten. Players and staff will revisit them, particularly with so little margin for error at this stage of the season.
With three games remaining, every decision takes on added weight. Celtic came out on top this time, but the discussion around VAR shows no sign of fading.