Celtic’s win over Hibs did not settle anything, because an ex-referee has now delivered a verdict that cuts straight through the biggest moment of the match.
Celtic secured a 2-1 win, but the equaliser from Hibs star Joe Newell ensured the focus shifted elsewhere.
An ex-referee has already assessed the incident, and that judgement directly challenges the outcome that was reached after a VAR review.
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The ex-referee verdict makes the Celtic VAR problem clear
The equaliser came from Joe Newell’s goal for 10-man Hibs, a moment that was checked through a VAR check for handball before being allowed to stand.
That should have removed any doubt around the decision. Instead, it has only sharpened the focus on it.
An ex-referee on The Ref’s View has made his position clear when stating the goal should be disallowed because a handball directly led to an advantage.
This is where the issue becomes unavoidable. The incident was not missed in real time, it was reviewed and still resulted in a decision that is now being directly challenged.
VAR had the opportunity to correct the call and instead confirmed it. That is why the focus has shifted from the decision to the process behind it.
Martin O’Neill exposes the real VAR problem
Martin O’Neill approached the situation without emotion, but his view reinforces the same concern. He described the equaliser as pretty contentious, reflecting how finely balanced the decision was seen internally.
That alone would keep the attention on the incident, but the Celtic boss’ wider point carries more weight. O’Neill stated that VAR has stopped referees from refereeing properly, which moves the debate beyond one call.
The problem is no longer confined to whether a goal should stand, it is about whether the system making that call is working as intended.
Celtic still took the points, but the result does not change the pattern. The system was involved, the review took place, and the same questions followed.
The ex-referee verdict and O’Neill’s assessment point in the same direction. The decision matters, but the VAR process matters more, and right now it is not providing the clarity it was meant to deliver.
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