Martin O’Neill Critiques VAR After Celtic’s Red Card Controversy

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has expressed strong criticism of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in Scottish football following the controversial red card issued to defender Auston Trusty. Trusty’s dismissal during the match against Hibernian means he will miss three significant fixtures in the Scottish Premiership, including the upcoming Old Firm derby at Ibrox on March 10, 2024.

O’Neill described the decision as “ridiculous” and suggested that the VAR’s intervention could be “debilitating” for on-field officials. Trusty received a red card after a confrontation with Jamie McGrath of Hibernian during a Celtic corner. Initially, referee Matthew MacDermid did not see the incident as warranting any punishment. However, he was later instructed by VAR official Grant Irvine to review the play, resulting in the dismissal.

“The referee has seen the incident,” O’Neill stated. “It is not as if he hadn’t seen it; he was right there. He is asked by a very excited VAR official to delay the game. When he says it’s nothing and that he will just have a word with the players, he is then compelled to change his decision. It is ridiculous.”

O’Neill emphasized that while he supports the VAR system to address clear errors, the current implementation in Scotland raises concerns. “If VAR has spotted blatant incidents, like two players fighting, I can understand that,” he added. “But when a referee has already seen the incident himself, having to overturn his decision is troubling.”

The manager also reflected on a previous incident involving Trusty, who was sent off for being the last man against Hearts. In that case, the referee opted for a yellow card, indicating that he believed the ball was moving away from the incident. The inconsistency in decisions has left O’Neill frustrated.

As Celtic prepares for the second leg of their Europa League tie against Stuttgart, where they face a daunting 4-1 deficit, O’Neill is considering resting key players in light of the crucial match against Hibernian. “We have capable players, and whoever we put out will not mean a ‘weakened’ team,” he noted.

O’Neill’s concerns about the VAR system echo wider discussions within football, including comments from UEFA officials warning that the technology’s use is becoming overly detailed. As the debate continues, Celtic will have to navigate the challenges presented by both the VAR system and their upcoming matches without Trusty.