Dermot Gallagher’s full verdict on the Alistair Johnston controversy should leave Scottish football feeling deeply uncomfortable.
The former referee did far more than analyse a contentious challenge from Celtic’s Glasgow Derby clash. He effectively exposed a major issue surrounding how VAR operated during one of the biggest fixtures in the Scottish game.
Initially, Gallagher admitted he did not think the challenge was a red card when watching the first replay angle. However, his explanation quickly became far more revealing than the decision itself.
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Dermot Gallagher exposed a serious issue around VAR operations
Speaking on Sky Sports, Gallagher said: “When you see the first angle, I didn’t think it was a red card. What I will say in the referee’s defence and the VARs defence, that clip came down at half time that was never, ever available during the game. It wasn’t shown as a replay during the game.
“That clip was actually shown at half time, so it was impossible for the VAR to recommend a review, which definitely would have no doubt, and definitely would have been a red card.
“But half time, it’s too late. Games restarted. The first time I saw that clip it was at halftime. That was not shown in the replay during the game.”
That completely changes the discussion around the incident. The issue now is not simply whether the referee made the correct call in real time.
The far bigger concern is that the officials responsible for VAR apparently never had access to the clearest replay angle while the game was actually being played.
VAR can only function properly if every relevant replay angle is immediately available to officials.
Gallagher’s comments strongly suggest that did not happen here.
If the decisive footage only became available at half-time, then the system had already failed before VAR could even properly intervene.
That is why Gallagher’s explanation has become so significant.
Importantly, there is no evidence of deliberate wrongdoing or conspiracy. Nothing Gallagher said suggests that.
However, supporters are fully justified in asking how such an important replay angle was unavailable during a fixture carrying this level of pressure and scrutiny.
The most alarming part may have been Gallagher’s response when asked why the replay was unavailable in the first place.
He simply replied: “I have no idea.”
Scottish football now needs answers after Gallagher’s admission
That answer leaves a damaging legacy around the whole VAR process.
Referees missing incidents in real time will always happen in football. VAR exists specifically to reduce those mistakes by giving officials access to every available angle.
Gallagher’s comments instead suggest the process itself broke down during one of the season’s biggest matches.
Celtic supporters will understandably feel thankful at hearing that the footage which would supposedly have led to “definite” a red card was unavailable until the interval.
However, more importantly, Scottish football cannot afford situations where major controversies are followed by unanswered questions about how VAR footage was handled.
Gallagher may have intended to defend the referee and VAR officials. Instead, he unintentionally intensified scrutiny on the operational standards behind the system itself.
That is now the real controversy facing Scottish football.
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