Blatant Celtic penalty vs Hibs sparks furious John Collins VAR response

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John Collins did not hesitate, and his reaction to Celtic’s penalty incident against Hibs cuts straight to the core of a growing problem.

Celtic found themselves at the centre of another VAR officiating flashpoint, with a key moment involving Benjamin Nygren inside the Hibs penalty area quickly becoming the talking point.

There was no real debate about what had happened in the box, only frustration at how it was judged. That frustration soon shifted towards VAR and John Collins left the SFA officials in no doubt what he thought of them.

• READ MORE: Martin O’Neill just summed up Celtic VAR frustration vs Hibs in one brutal line

Collins’ verdict leaves no room for interpretation

John Collins delivered one of the strongest reactions seen to a VAR decision involving Celtic, making his view absolutely clear in the immediate aftermath.

After watching Benjamin Nygren get bundled off the ball and off the pitch into the Hibs hoardings, Collins’ words were extremely damning.

The former Celtic star described the incident as “as blatant a penalty as you’ll ever see”, removing any suggestion that the call could fall into a grey area.

Collins went further, stating: “Surely VAR has to have a look? It’s as blatant a penalty as you’ll ever see.

“If VAR have watched that and think it shouldn’t be a penalty, every one of them should be sacked.”

That level of criticism from a former Celtic player carries weight because it reflects a clear standard being missed. It moves the conversation away from interpretation and towards accountability.

The incident itself makes the VAR decision harder to defend

The challenge was both visible and clear and there was no ambiguity in how it impacted Celtic’s attacking phase.

Celtic supporters reached the same conclusion, with widespread reaction insisting there was no way the challenge should not have resulted in a penalty.

The focus then shifts directly onto VAR. When the system is designed to correct clear errors, failing to act in a situation like this raises legitimate questions about how it is being applied.

Celtic are left dealing with the consequences of a decision that should have been straightforward. Collins’ reaction does not just highlight frustration, it underlines a growing concern that the system meant to ensure accuracy is not delivering it, and could have a key bearing on who wins the title this season.