Celtic produced a dominant display over the weekend, thrashing Kilmarnock 5-1 as Brendan Rodgers’ side edged closer to securing the Scottish Premiership title.
The Hoops were on the brink of being crowned champions after Aberdeen nearly pulled off another win against Rangers. However, a late equaliser at Pittodrie delayed Celtic’s title celebrations for at least one more matchday, despite their emphatic win the day before.
The scoreline at Celtic Park could have been even more one-sided had a first-half goal not been ruled out for offside. Adam Idah found the net when the score was already 4-1, but VAR intervened and the goal was chalked off — a decision that didn’t sit well with much of the Celtic fanbase.
Michael Stewart weighs in on controversial VAR decision
At halftime, BBC pundit Michael Stewart gave his take on the disallowed goal, siding with the officials. While acknowledging how close the call was, Stewart insisted the correct decision was made, even if it may not please many Celtic supporters.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Stewart said:
“Celtic’s performance was incredible. I mentioned to Stephen during the game — when Celtic play at that tempo, no one can live with them.
“Rodgers will be delighted with the response he’s got from his players. The only silver lining for Kilmarnock is that the scoreline wasn’t worse. The disallowed goal was extremely tight, but ultimately the right decision. It could’ve easily been five or more.”
Celtic supporters react to offside controversy
Unsurprisingly, the offside call sparked debate among fans online. Many Celtic supporters took to social media to question the VAR decision, claiming that the freeze-frame used to judge Idah’s position was captured after the ball had already left Arne Engels’ foot — which, if true, would mean Idah was onside.
However, not all fans disagreed. Some did acknowledge that the decision was fair, given how marginal the call was.
In the end, the disallowed goal didn’t change the outcome, with Celtic coasting to a comfortable victory. Still, the incident reignited the ongoing conversation around VAR’s effectiveness. Even with video technology and replays, tight calls like these continue to divide opinion — when the system is supposed to bring greater clarity to the game.
