Celtic fans are raging over VAR decisions after the club extended its unbeaten start to the season with a win at St Mirren. The victory was marred by two disallowed goals, sparking a wave of complaints to the Daily Record's Hotline this week.
Celtic sit first in the Premiership with 15 points from five wins, five points clear of St Mirren themselves. Brendan Rodgers's side has scored 13 goals and conceded just three. The match in Paisley saw Camilo Duran and another Celtic player have efforts chalked off following VAR reviews. Supporters flooded the phone lines to argue the calls.
What were the controversial VAR calls?
Gordon Ashley from Ayr was one of many callers left incensed. "What an utter farce from the officials in Paisley," he said. "Camilo Duran’s goal was clearly proven onside by the first freeze frame only for it to be retracted and replaced by a different one." The other major incident involved defender Liam Scales, who was at the centre of a two-handed shove in the penalty area that went unpunished. These moments dominated post-match discussion, overshadowing the hard-fought three points.
How did the wider football weekend unfold?
The fixture list also saw Rangers secure a third consecutive victory with a win at Motherwell. That match saw Lawrence Shankland suffer a hamstring injury, a blow for the Ibrox side. The contrasting fortunes in Glasgow have set an early tone for the title race, with Celtic's flawless record putting pressure on their rivals. You can track the evolving battle at the top on our standings page.
What is the current state of the Celtic squad?
While navigating these early season challenges, Celtic are doing so without several key players. The current injury list includes Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Kasper Høgh, Kieran Tierney, and Jota. Manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for returns ahead of a busy schedule, with the full squad status available on our injuries page. The team's depth will be tested as they aim to maintain their strong early form.
What's next for Celtic after the international break?
Attention now turns to the next Premiership fixture, a home match against Motherwell on December 26th. Motherwell currently sit fifth in the table, presenting another tough test. Celtic will look to continue their winning momentum and preserve their clean sheet record at Celtic Park. Fans can plan ahead by viewing the full fixtures calendar. The team returns to action aiming for a sixth straight league win.
