Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has launched a scathing critique of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, branding it “debilitating” for on-field officials and questioning the value of the Scottish FA’s appeals process. The comments come after Celtic’s appeal against a red card issued to defender Auston Trusty in a recent match against Hibernian was unsuccessful.
The incident in question involved Trusty being sent off following a VAR review of a challenge on Jamie McGrath during a corner kick. O’Neill expressed his bewilderment at the decision, and more broadly, at the increasing intervention of VAR in altering the initial calls made by the referee. “I did the interview after the game and someone asked me if we were going to appeal it and I thought I’m really not sure about it, the appeals in this day and age are seemingly worthless,” O’Neill stated.
Celtic released a statement following the appeal’s rejection, criticizing the ruling and calling for an urgent review of VAR’s implementation. The club specifically objected to what they perceived as VAR’s tendency to “re-referee” decisions already made by the on-field official. This sentiment was echoed by O’Neill, who believes the current system undermines the authority and judgment of the referees.
O’Neill’s frustration centers on the process itself. He highlighted the delay caused by VAR reviews and the apparent willingness of referees to overturn their original decisions based on input from those reviewing the footage remotely. “And then you’ve got a very excited man on VAR saying ‘delay, delay, delay’ and they ask him and he says he’s going to have a word with the players,” O’Neill explained. “Then he has to trot over to change his mind. It’s ridiculous.”
The veteran manager went further, suggesting that the increasing reliance on VAR could ultimately render the role of the on-field referee obsolete. “All I’m saying is that VAR, in time, we won’t need a referee,” he asserted. “VAR will do it for them from wherever they’re doing it from because that’s what they do. They’ve asked the referee to go over something that he’s actually seen. He’s seen it, it’s not like he’s missed the incident.”
O’Neill emphasized that the referee had a clear view of the incident and had initially deemed it not to warrant a red card. The subsequent intervention of VAR, he argues, effectively overruled the referee’s judgment despite the initial observation. “He’d said it was nothing, ‘I’m going to have a word with the guys’…”
The controversy surrounding Trusty’s red card is not an isolated incident. Recent reports indicate growing discontent among Scottish clubs regarding VAR decisions, with concerns raised about consistency and the impact on the flow of the game. Martin O’Neill’s public criticism adds significant weight to these concerns, given his extensive experience and respected standing within the football community.
The situation raises broader questions about the effectiveness of VAR and its impact on the integrity of the game. While intended to correct clear and obvious errors, critics argue that VAR has instead introduced a new layer of subjectivity and controversy, leading to increased scrutiny of refereeing decisions and a perceived erosion of trust in the officiating process.
Celtic’s call for a review of VAR usage is likely to be supported by other clubs in the Scottish Premiership. The league faces a critical juncture in determining the future of VAR, balancing the desire for greater accuracy with the need to maintain the authority of on-field officials and preserve the spirit of the game. The Scottish FA will be under pressure to address the concerns raised by O’Neill and Celtic, and to implement changes that ensure VAR is used effectively and fairly.
O’Neill was speaking while in Germany with Celtic for their Europa League play-off match against Stuttgart, adding another layer of pressure as the club juggles domestic concerns with their European ambitions. The outcome of the VAR debate could have significant implications for Celtic’s season, both in terms of on-field results and the overall confidence of the team and its supporters.
