Celtic’s Kilmarnock Rout Sparks Fresh Debate Over Offside Technology and VAR Funding in Scottish Football
Celtic bounced back in emphatic fashion over the weekend with a resounding 5-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Celtic Park, a result that reasserted their dominance at the top of the Scottish Premiership and calmed any lingering nerves following their shock draw with St Johnstone just a week earlier. Brendan Rodgers’ side were at their clinical best, dismantling Kilmarnock with ruthless efficiency, and by the half-hour mark, the contest was effectively over. Celtic were four goals up, with Cameron Carter-Vickers surprisingly getting on the scoresheet with a thunderous strike — a collector’s item from the American centre-back.
The win, which many described as a performance befitting champions-elect, was not only about the goals scored or the clean sheet kept, but also about how Celtic responded mentally. After the lacklustre showing at McDiarmid Park, all eyes were on how the team would bounce back. What followed was a relentless show of force, a reminder of the gap in class between Celtic and much of the rest of the division.
One notable storyline within the game, however, involved Adam Idah, who had been reintroduced to the starting XI. The powerful Irish striker, who has been gradually bedding into the side since his move from Norwich, was looking to make a statement after Celtic’s misfire in Perth. While Idah worked hard, linked play well, and made intelligent runs, he ultimately finished the match without a goal to his name — though not for lack of trying.
Idah thought he had found the back of the net during the match, only for the assistant referee’s flag to cut short his celebration. The goal was ruled out for offside, and VAR backed the linesman’s decision. It was, by all accounts, a marginal call — the sort of decision where one replay angle suggests he’s level, another suggests a toe might be ahead. It was tight, and in a different league or a different country, it might have gone the other way — or at least, it would have been decided faster and more definitively.
This moment was later discussed on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, where former English Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was asked for his take on the disallowed goal and the wider context of VAR in Scottish football. Gallagher, never one to shy away from honesty, acknowledged just how fine the margins were. “You can understand why the assistant doesn’t see it because it is so tight,” he said. “VAR in Scotland — that’s what it is for. They have got VAR, at the moment, rather than semi-automated offside.”
That final remark is key — and it touches a nerve that has been increasingly exposed as football technology evolves at an uneven pace across Europe.
The Semi-Automated Divide
While Idah’s disallowed goal was consistent with the current rules and protocols in Scotland, the frustration among fans and players alike is rooted in the differences between what is available north of the border compared to leagues like the English Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, or the Champions League.
This past weekend marked the introduction of semi-automated offside technology in the English Premier League, a system that uses multiple cameras and tracking points on each player’s body to instantly generate offside calls. It not only improves accuracy, but also significantly reduces the time spent waiting for decisions. It eliminates the need for human line-drawing and minimises controversy over decisions made several minutes after goals are scored.
In contrast, Scotland still relies on officials at Clydesdale House manually drawing offside lines, reviewing multiple angles, and making judgment calls that can take minutes to conclude — often without conclusive visual evidence. This isn’t just a minor technical difference — it’s a fundamental disparity that can impact match outcomes, player momentum, and fan experience.
Gallagher was asked whether he could see semi-automated offside being introduced in Scotland any time soon. His answer was candid and to the point: “Depends on budget, doesn’t it?! It’s not a cheap process. It depends on what they have got in the kitty.” He went on to explain that while VAR in Scotland does its job, it’s “slightly less comprehensive” than what’s seen in England — a polite way of acknowledging that Scottish football is lagging behind due to financial limitations.
The Price of Technology
So, what exactly is the cost of officiating technology in Scotland? According to a Sky Sports report, VAR costs Scottish Premiership clubs around £1.2 million per season. However, this cost is not evenly distributed across the league. The payment structure is staggered, based on league position and financial clout. Naturally, Celtic, as the dominant force and perennial title contenders, contribute the most — reportedly paying £195,000 per season toward VAR. Meanwhile, the team finishing bottom of the table — currently projected to be St Johnstone — pays around £67,000.
This disparity reflects the wider financial gulf in Scottish football. Clubs like Celtic and Rangers can absorb such costs relatively comfortably, whereas for smaller clubs with limited matchday revenue and sponsorship income, the costs of VAR are already a significant burden. The idea of investing even more money into semi-automated offside technology, which requires additional cameras, AI software, and system integration, seems unrealistic without external support — be it from broadcasters, sponsors, or the SFA itself.
In essence, while leagues in England, Germany, Italy, and Spain race ahead in officiating technology, Scottish football risks being left behind. The result is a game that, despite its passion and tradition, is increasingly vulnerable to human error and the inefficiencies of outdated systems.
Where Does Scottish Football Go From Here?
The situation presents a difficult dilemma for the SPFL and the SFA. On the one hand, embracing semi-automated offside would modernize the game, align it with UEFA standards, and reduce the weekly controversy surrounding marginal calls. On the other hand, the financial landscape of Scottish football makes such a leap challenging.
If technology is to advance in Scotland, it may require a new funding model, perhaps with more investment from TV broadcasters or a centralised SFA fund to support technological upgrades across all top-flight grounds. Otherwise, the burden will continue to fall disproportionately on successful clubs like Celtic, who are effectively subsidizing a VAR system that is less advanced than what’s used by clubs in the English Championship.
Final Thoughts
Adam Idah’s disallowed goal may not have mattered in the grand scheme of Celtic’s 5-0 rout over Kilmarnock, but it shines a spotlight on an issue that will only become more pressing. As football evolves, fans in Scotland are entitled to wonder why their game still lags behind in accuracy, speed, and fairness when the technology exists — and is used just across the border — to eliminate these gray areas.
For now, Dermot Gallagher’s assessment sums it up: it’s not about desire, it’s about affordability. Until that changes, the Scottish game will have to make do with imperfect tools, human error, and lengthy stoppages — all while watching other leagues glide ahead with technological clarity.
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