Celtic’s draw with Rangers was, unfortunately, marred by VAR which has had another material effect on another fixture involving the Parkhead club.
We have already spoken today about former SFA Grade 1 referee, Steve Conroy, saying that John Beaton shouldn’t have overturned his original decision of a yellow card for diving to a penalty after Fabio Silva’s theatrics.
The decision was a turning point in the game and inspired a comeback from Rangers when they looked out of the game at 2-0 down.
Pundits and former professionals have all had their say on the penalty award, but what did former FIFA referee, Dermot Gallagher, make of it?
Dermot Gallagher makes Alistair Johnston Ibrox claim
Going against the grain of pundit opinion, Gallagher seems to be of a very different opinion from Steve Conroy in that he thinks the decision to award a penalty is right.
However, it’s the claim that Alistair Johnston should have received a second yellow that the former FIFA referee refutes.
Gallagher said [Sky Sports’ Ref Watch], “This is a very, very interesting clip in so much as he gets a yellow card for simulation. When you see it again, you see the angle, Alistair lifts his leg and catches him on his knee, it’s a penalty.
“So the referee then has an even bigger dilemma because of the pressure he’s put under. So he goes to the screen, he comes back, the yellow card for simulation is then overturned and he gives a penalty.
“But then it ramps up because the Rangers players say, ‘Well, Alistair Johnston’s already had a yellow card, he should get a second one.’
“But for me, it’s just a foul. It’s not a second yellow card. He goes it goes to screen, he has all options.
“So he can come back and yellow card him, but I don’t think it’s a yellow card challenge. I think it’s a foul.”
So there you have it. It seems that the general consensus of former referees is nothing but confusion. So what chance do we have when two top referees can’t come to the same conclusion after watching the same piece of VAR footage?
Brendan Rodgers will be the happier of the two managers as he knows that Celtic will still have Rangers to come to Paradise for the final Glasgow Derby of the season.
All the Celtic manager needs to do is ensure he wins the remaining six games of the season and then the title remains at Parkhead.
If he can do that then future VAR decisions will not have any bearing on who becomes crowned the Scottish Premiership champions come the end of the season.