Andy Walker left one Rangers supporter with little room to argue after delivering a blunt reality check on the latest VAR conspiracy claims involving Celtic.
The debate emerged after the release of VAR audio relating to a controversial incident in the Hearts v Motherwell match.
One Rangers fan called into Go Radio to complain about the decision, saying he was “absolutely flabbergasted” and made a strange VAR conspiracy claim the former Celtic striker immediately shot down.
Should Celtic comment on the selective outrage after VAR’s reviews of the run-in decision?
Celtic example highlights Walker’s key VAR argument
In a bizarre call, a Rangers fan said that teams in Scotland should ‘not bother turning up’ and got very upset about a decision that did not even involve his team.
The caller’s frustration reflected a wider belief among some Rangers supporters that Celtic have benefited from controversial decisions this season. Walker was having none of it.
The former Celtic man responded by pointing to a simple fact that often gets lost whenever controversy erupts around a single decision.
Walker said, “It’s not a referee who is deliberately favouring one team over another. It’s a controversial call.
“This is what the clubs paid for, they have six cameras, there were six cameras at that game, there were six cameras at the Motherwell Celtic game.
“This is what the clubs have bought into, this is what the clubs want. Everyone will disagree about certain decisions.
“And I’ve got to say over the course of the season, I think every club could put a video together with decisions that have gone against them. The idea that any referee is favouring one club over the other, I just think it’s absurd.”
You can listen to the incredible call below:
Walker’s reference to the Motherwell versus Celtic fixture is important because it underlines his wider point.
The same technology and camera allocation are being used across Scottish Premiership matches, regardless of which clubs are involved.
Celtic supporters know controversial decisions are not unique to Rangers
Walker’s broader argument is difficult to dispute. Every support can point to decisions they believe have cost their team points during the season.
That does not mean supporters are wrong to question individual calls. Debate is part of football and VAR has not removed controversy from the game.
What Walker challenged was the leap from disagreeing with a decision to alleging referees are deliberately favouring one club over another. Frustration over a single incident is understandable. Claiming there is evidence of systemic bias is a very different argument.
Walker ultimately delivered a reality check that many Rangers supporters will not want to hear.
Controversial decisions happen across the league, and as he pointed out, every club could produce its own catalogue of grievances. That makes conspiracy theories far harder to sustain.
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