Chido Obi-Martin of Manchester United, ManU in blue its challenged by Sepp van den Berg left and Nathan Collins of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford and Manchester United at the Brentford Community Stadium, Brentford, England on 4 May 2025. Imago Images
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill found himself questioning the consistency of VAR officiating following his side’s victory over St Mirren on September 5, 2026.
The match was overshadowed by controversy after two Celtic goals were ruled out for marginal offsides, leaving O’Neill searching for answers in the aftermath of the game.
Camilo Durán was among those to have a goal chalked off during the contest, with VAR technology used to rule the effort out for the narrowest of margins.
New signing Shim Mheuka also saw a goal disallowed, with the decision drawing particular scrutiny given that the offside lines reportedly could not even be drawn for the call.
O’Neill expressed genuine bafflement at the decisions, suggesting the technology being applied in such tight circumstances raises serious questions about its purpose and fairness.
VAR was introduced to eliminate clear and obvious errors, yet decisions like those seen against Celtic appear to push the boundaries of what the technology was designed to achieve.
Shim Mheuka’s involvement in the game highlighted just how important the new arrival has already become to Celtic’s attacking play and overall tactical approach this season.
The fact that O’Neill referenced the Korean forward in his post-match comments underlined the significance of Mheuka to the club’s ambitions as the campaign progresses.
Celtic did manage to secure the win despite the contentious officiating calls, demonstrating a resilience and quality that O’Neill will take considerable encouragement from.
The VAR debate is unlikely to go away quickly in Scottish football, with pressure mounting on authorities to provide clearer explanations when such fine marginal calls are made.
O’Neill’s frustration reflects a broader sentiment among clubs and supporters who feel that ultra-thin offside lines are undermining the flow and enjoyment of the game.
As Celtic continue to push forward in the league, clarity around how VAR is being applied will remain a pressing issue for both the club and Scottish football as a whole.
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