Collins Demands Dismissal of VAR Officials After Celtic Penalty Snub
Former Celtic legend and Hibs manager John Collins has delivered a scathing assessment of the VAR officials during Celtic’s victory at Easter Road. Collins suggested they should lose their jobs after failing to award the Hoops a penalty in the second half.
It was a high-stakes afternoon for Martin O’Neill’s side, who secured a vital three points to move level with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership. While the match was packed with incident, it was a physical confrontation in the box that left Collins incensed.
A Match Defined by Technology
The game was shaped by VAR from the early stages. Referee David Dickinson initially showed a yellow card to Jamie McGrath for a challenge on Alistair Johnston. However, following an intervention from Don Robertson in the VAR room, the card was upgraded to a red.
Celtic took advantage of the extra man when Daizen Maeda opened the scoring. His goal was initially disallowed for offside, but the decision was overturned after Clydesdale House utilized the technology to review the lines.
Hibs eventually leveled through Joe Newell. Despite Celtic’s claims that the ball struck Newell’s arm before he scored, the goal was allowed to stand without a formal VAR intervention.
The Second Half Flashpoint
The real controversy erupted during a battle between Hibs’ Josh Campbell and Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren. Campbell appeared to bundle the playmaker off the ball inside the penalty area. The incident triggered a heated confrontation between the players, resulting in yellow cards for Campbell and Liam Scales.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, Pat Bonner noted that it looked like a clear foul, stating that Campbell pushed Nygren over without making contact with the ball. Collins went significantly further.
“If that goes to VAR, it will be a penalty without a shadow of a doubt. That is as blatant a penalty as you will ever see.”
“An Absolute Shambles”
As commentator Alasdair Lamont confirmed that the VAR room was not reviewing the incident, Collins became increasingly frustrated. After viewing the replay in slow motion, he issued a blunt verdict on the officiating team.
“If VAR have not given that as a penalty, then every single one of them involved should be sacked,” Collins said. He described the situation as an absolute shambles, highlighting the inconsistency of the technology’s application during the match.
While Lamont suggested the officials likely had their own rationale, the decision has once again placed the use of VAR in the Scottish Premiership under intense scrutiny.