Celtic Manager Martin O'Neill Delivers Scathing VAR Critique
Celtic's manager Martin O'Neill has launched a withering assessment of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology in Scottish football, following what he termed the "ridiculous" dismissal of defender Auston Trusty during Sunday's loss to Hibernian. The red card, which Celtic unsuccessfully appealed, means Trusty will miss three crucial Scottish Premiership fixtures, starting with this Sunday's high-stakes Old Firm derby at Ibrox.
O'Neill Claims VAR Actions 'Debilitating' for On-Field Officials
O'Neill argued that VAR interventions are becoming excessively intrusive, describing them as "debilitating" for match referees. The incident in question occurred when Trusty reacted angrily to Hibernian's Jamie McGrath during a Celtic corner. Referee Matthew MacDermid initially deemed the altercation unworthy of sanction but was instructed by VAR official Grant Irvine to review the footage, leading to a red card for Trusty.
"The referee, as he told me on Sunday, has seen the incident," O'Neill explained. "It is not as if he hadn't seen it; he is watching it. He is asked by a very excited man on VAR, saying: 'Delay, delay, delay, delay.' They ask him, and he says: 'It's nothing, I'm just going to have a word with the players.' Then he has to trot over to change his mind. It is ridiculous."
O'Neill Warns VAR Could Replace Referees Entirely
Speaking in Germany ahead of Celtic's Europa League second-leg tie against Stuttgart on Thursday, O'Neill expressed broader concerns about VAR's implementation in Scotland. While supportive of VAR's basic concept for missed dramatic incidents, he criticized its current application as overly "microscopic."
"In time we won't need a referee," O'Neill stated. "VAR will do it from wherever they are doing it from, because that is what they did. They have asked the referee to overturn something that he has actually seen. It is not as if he missed the incident, which of course would be a different issue."
He referenced a previous incident where Trusty was sent off against Hearts, noting similar VAR interference. "The referee said he gave a yellow card because he thought the ball was going away, and the referee was there and closer to the incident. He saw the incident and was called over to change it."
Celtic Focus on Europa League and Old Firm Derby
Celtic enter the Europa League match against Stuttgart with a challenging 4-1 deficit from the first leg, making progression unlikely. O'Neill indicated he might rest several senior players to prioritize the upcoming Old Firm clash at Ibrox, though he emphasized that any lineup changes would not constitute a "weakened" team.
"They've all played in the first team, so whoever we put out it won't mean a 'weakened' team," O'Neill said. "They are all capable players."
This controversy highlights ongoing debates about VAR's role in football, with O'Neill's comments adding to calls for clearer guidelines and restraint in its use to preserve referee authority and match flow.
