⚽️ CHAOS IN GLASGOW: Celtic’s Season Shaken by Controversial VAR Call in St. Mirren Standoff
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND — A cloud of controversy looms large over Celtic Park after a high-stakes clash against St. Mirren ended in a contentious 1-1 draw — a result that many believe could be the death blow to Celtic’s title aspirations this season. At the heart of the storm is a VAR decision that disallowed a would-be match-winning goal by Celtic forward Liel Abada in the 87th minute, citing a marginal handball in the buildup.
The moment, initially celebrated with roaring euphoria by the 60,000-strong home crowd, quickly turned into a nightmare. As players raced to the corner flag and fans erupted in jubilation, referee Andrew Dallas was instructed by the VAR booth to pause for a review. Just minutes later, the announcement was made: goal disallowed.
> “It’s a handball, plain and simple,” said Kris Boyd, former Rangers striker and current Sky Sports pundit, backing the decision on air. “By the letter of the law, it’s the right call.”
But that assessment did little to calm the fury erupting across Celtic supporters online and in the stands.
💥 Fan Outrage Boils Over
Social media channels were instantly flooded with emotionally charged reactions from fans:
> “This is a DEATH BLOW to our season! VAR is broken and biased!” tweeted user @HoopsTillDeath.
“When will they get it right? Referees and VAR are RUINING Scottish football!” posted @BhoyInGreen.
Outside the stadium, chants of “VAR is a fraud!” echoed through Kerrydale Street as supporters gathered to protest the increasing number of controversial decisions that have gone against the club in recent weeks.
📉 Celtic’s Title Hopes in Jeopardy
The dropped points see Celtic slip to third place in the Scottish Premiership table, now trailing arch-rivals Rangers by four points, with only six matches remaining. Manager Brendan Rodgers, usually reserved in criticism, didn’t hide his frustration.
> “This is becoming a pattern. It’s one thing to make mistakes, but it’s another when there’s no accountability,” Rodgers told reporters post-match. “We had control, we created the chances, and we were robbed of a fair result.”
Rodgers also confirmed the club has submitted an official complaint to the Scottish FA requesting transparency on the VAR protocols used during the decision.
🔍 The Incident: What Happened?
Replays showed the ball glancing off the forearm of midfielder Matt O’Riley as he controlled it before threading the assist to Abada. The contact was minimal and appeared incidental, prompting debate about whether the handball rule was applied with proper discretion.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher, appearing on Sky’s Ref Watch, added fuel to the debate:
> “That call could go either way, depending on the official. It wasn’t deliberate, and in many leagues, that goal stands.”
🏁 What’s Next?
With a fiery derby against Rangers looming and the Hoops desperate to claw back points, the emotional toll of the decision may linger far beyond this single match.
One thing is certain: faith in VAR is at an all-time low among Celtic supporters — and the belief that the system is fair and consistent has been seriously shaken.
The game was played on the pitch — but lost in the replay booth.
#VARControversy #CelticFC #ScottishPremiership
