Celtic’s win over Hibs was, eventually, a fairly comfortable affair.
Despite going behind to a shock Hibs first half opener, Brendan Rodgers’ side battled back with ease late on in the first 45 minutes to go in at the break 2-1 ahead.
Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah combined to put Celtic ahead and both players were also involved in the Hoops’ equaliser.
However, VAR seemed determined to find something wrong with Celtic’s equaliser as the video referee made a lengthy check on Kuhn’s goal which held up play resuming for a number of minutes.
And reacting at half-time, Celtic TV’s Gerry McCulloch was raging as he revealed the real reason VAR spent an age assessing Kuhn’s goal.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesVAR blasted for ‘trying to find something’ wrong with Celtic equaliser vs Hibs
VAR is not without its critics and more often than not it creates controversy where there needs to be none.
And at Celtic Park today, McCulloch blasted the refereeing technology for its lengthy check on a goal that really didn’t deserve the amount of time it took to come the conclusion that Kuhn scored a legitimate goal.
Speaking on Celtic TV, McCulloch fumed, “That stoppage was incredible. I mean, you can understand VAR, when it’s to the benefit when it picks up things that referees miss.
“But at no point in that move, would anybody think there was any any issue with that goal, whether it was offside or interference.
“They’re trying to find something! Apparently they were looking for interference at the attacking phase of play.”
VAR has plenty of work left to improve after another Celtic Park incident
Thankfully, VAR didn’t affect today’s result but there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the technology this season.
Against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup, VAR picked up strange comments about Celtic striker Adam Idah after the match referee appeared to accuse the Irishman of trying to buy a foul.
And let’s not forget the incredible decision to chalk off a goal VAR made the last time Celtic faced Hibs.
The SFA have plenty work left to do to improve the technology and the length of time it takes to check decisions should be one of them.