Celtic's 2-1 Premiership victory over St Mirren in Paisley this week was overshadowed by major VAR controversy and a technical failure. The league leaders had two goals disallowed for offside and saw the second half delayed when the referee's connection to the video assistant was lost.
What happened with the disallowed goals?
Camilo Duran thought he had opened the scoring for Celtic in the first half, only for the effort to be ruled out after a VAR review. The same fate befell Shim Mhueka in the second period, with his strike also chalked off following an intervention from VAR official Don Robertson. The decisions left manager Martin O'Neill frustrated, though the 74-year-old admitted his feelings would have been stronger had his side not secured the three points. "I would probably be more unhappy about it if we had not won the game," O'Neill told the Daily Record. "Is that right? It wasn't working properly?"
Why was there a delay in the second half?
The match experienced a significant interruption after referee Ryan Lee lost his communication link with the VAR team based at Clydesdale House. This technical malfunction caused a delay to the restart of the second half. Broadcasters Sky Sports later informed viewers that Lee was back online and the action could resume. The incident added to the sense of chaos surrounding the officiating technology on the night.
What are the concerns about VAR accuracy?
Pundit Richard Build raised serious doubts about the precision of the VAR lines used to make the offside calls. Speaking to BBC Sportsound, Build scrutinised both decisions. "It's a tight one (Duran), you'll see the other one (Mheuka)." he said. His comments reflect a growing unease about the consistency and reliability of the technology in tight marginal calls, even as it becomes a permanent fixture in the Scottish top flight.
Where does this leave Celtic in the league?
Despite the controversy, Celtic's winning run continues unabated. The victory at the SMiSA Stadium maintains their perfect start to the season. They sit first in the Premiership with 15 points from five wins. Their goal difference stands at an impressive +10, having scored 13 times and conceded just three. This result extends their lead at the summit to five points over St Mirren, the very team they defeated. You can track their progress in the standings.
Who will be missing for the next fixture?
Celtic will be without several key players as they prepare for their next match. The club's current injury list includes Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Kasper Høgh, Kieran Tierney, and Jota. Fans can monitor the latest team news on the official injuries page. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Motherwell, who are fifth in the table, on December 26th, 2026. The full schedule is available on the fixtures list.
