Celtic’s 5-0 demolition of St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-final may have showcased a team in full flow, but it also reignited debate about the use of VAR in Scotland and the increasingly bizarre reactions from some of those who once officiated the game.
At Hampden Park, in front of a buzzing crowd, Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side turned in a performance that was as clinical as it was confident. From the first whistle, Celtic dictated the rhythm of the game, moving the ball with pace and purpose, carving open a St Johnstone side that simply couldn’t cope with the level of intensity coming their way. It was a masterclass in high-tempo football from a team chasing a domestic double—and a firm message that the Hoops are peaking at the right time of the season.
Goals came from across the pitch, showcasing the depth and variety in Celtic’s attack. Adam Idah continued his fine form up top, linking play and giving the St Johnstone defence constant problems. Paulo Bernardo, Reo Hatate, and James Forrest all had significant involvement, while the defence, marshalled by Liam Scales and Auston Trusty, never really looked troubled—until one moment midway through the second half when Hampden briefly descended into confusion.
That moment arrived when St Johnstone’s Makenzie Kirk rifled in what looked like a beautiful consolation goal from long range. It was a stunning strike—clean, powerful, unstoppable—but as the Saints players wheeled away in celebration, VAR was already checking the build-up. Replays showed that Celtic striker Adam Idah had been shoved in the back just before possession was regained by St Johnstone. The referee had missed the incident in real-time, but VAR flagged it for review. After a short check, the referee was advised to rule out the goal. It was the right call.
And yet, even with the system doing its job—correctly identifying a foul and ensuring the laws of the game were upheld—controversy still managed to creep in, thanks in large part to a baffling reaction from an X (formerly Twitter) account run by former SFA referees Steve Conroy and Des Roache, known as The Ref’s View.
Initially, the account appeared to back the officials’ decision:
“Correct decision to disallow St Johnstone goal. It was a shove & it was face on to the ref, so he couldn’t see it.”
So far, so good. But moments later, in a strange twist, the account contradicted itself:
“Would be blazing if I was a Saints fan, though.”
This comment makes very little sense. If the referees—past and present—agree that a foul was committed, then there should be no ambiguity. Why would any supporter, of any club, be angry about a correct decision? That remark has understandably drawn criticism, especially from Celtic supporters who feel the post-game discussion continues to twist against their club even when decisions go in their favour and are correct.
The contradiction in logic is even more puzzling when one considers that these are former officials. Their job was to remain neutral, enforce the rules, and uphold the integrity of the game. Yet here they are, seemingly undermining the use of VAR by pandering to imagined grievances and encouraging tribal reactions. You can’t have it both ways—either it’s a foul, or it’s not. If it is, the goal had to be disallowed. End of discussion.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only VAR decision involving Celtic on the day. Earlier in the match, James Forrest appeared to be clipped in the penalty area. Initially, the referee waved play on. VAR stepped in, took a long look, and again chose not to intervene. There were strong arguments that contact had been made and Forrest had been impeded, but after a lengthy review, no penalty was awarded. In isolation, you might chalk that up to interpretation—but when viewed alongside the many other contentious VAR calls Celtic have faced this season, it becomes part of a worrying trend.
Take, for example, the now-infamous incident at Easter Road earlier this season. Daizen Maeda scored what looked like a legitimate goal against Hibernian. However, VAR intervened and disallowed the strike, suggesting that the ball had gone out of play in the build-up. The problem? There was no conclusive camera angle proving the ball was out. It was, by all appearances, a guess—something VAR should never rely on. That moment arguably cost Celtic points in the title race, and the fallout from it has yet to fully subside.
Add in the disallowed goals, inconsistent red card decisions, and missed penalties across various competitions, and it’s not hard to understand why frustration among Celtic fans continues to grow. Brendan Rodgers has largely kept his cool in the face of mounting VAR issues, but even he has acknowledged that the current system lacks the consistency and clarity needed at the highest level.
At the heart of the issue is a fundamental misunderstanding of what VAR is meant to do. It’s not there to re-referee the game. It’s there to correct clear and obvious mistakes that change the outcome of key moments. But in Scotland, VAR often feels like it’s being used either too tentatively—where it fails to act when it should—or too aggressively, intervening for marginal decisions that slow down the game and confuse players and fans alike.
The officiating itself also continues to fall under scrutiny. Too often, referees appear uncertain, reluctant to trust their own instincts, or overly reliant on VAR to make decisions for them. Worse still is the lack of communication with fans inside stadiums. Supporters are left in the dark during reviews, creating confusion and frustration. In other leagues, decisions are explained over the tannoy. In Scotland, we’re still guessing.
What makes matters worse is that instead of helping clarify things, some former referees are now actively adding to the confusion. By offering contradictory takes—saying a decision is correct, but that they’d still be angry if it went against them—they’re fuelling the perception that even those who used to officiate don’t fully understand what’s going on. That kind of commentary does nothing to build trust in the system and only widens the gap between officials and supporters.
In contrast, Celtic did everything they needed to do on the pitch. This wasn’t a game decided by one moment. It wasn’t a tight contest where a VAR call made the difference. Celtic were utterly dominant. Their movement, their pressing, their transitions—everything clicked. Players like Matt O’Riley and Callum McGregor set the tempo, while the back line remained composed and disciplined. Even when St Johnstone threatened, it never felt like Celtic lost control.
This was the kind of display that shows why Celtic remain favourites to lift the Scottish Cup. And if they can maintain this level of performance, few would bet against them completing a domestic double.
But while the football itself is thriving under Brendan Rodgers, the continued drama around officiating and VAR threatens to cast a shadow over the game in Scotland. VAR should be enhancing the sport—not detracting from it. Until the SFA addresses the inconsistencies in how the technology is applied and ensures that former officials offer clear, consistent explanations rather than confusing commentary, the controversies will continue.
For now, Celtic march on to the final—and deservedly so. But Scottish football still has work to do if it wants to match the professionalism and precision that Rodgers’ men are showing on the pitch.
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