Fork out for VAR better or calls will stay dodgy

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 13, 2026

Martin O’Neill criticized the current VAR system in Scottish football, highlighting technical shortcomings that have led to multiple disallowed Celtic goals and calling for costly upgrades to improve accuracy. He warned that without clubs investing around £1.5 million annually to enhance the technology, controversial refereeing decisions will remain a persistent issue.

Martin O’Neill has highlighted the limitations of the current Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in Scottish football, warning that controversial decisions will persist unless clubs commit to funding significant technical upgrades. The Celtic manager expressed frustration after three goals were disallowed across his team’s last two matches, citing the inadequacies of the existing VAR infrastructure.

During Celtic’s recent fixture against St Mirren, two goals were ruled out for offside, although the VAR team was unable to use the typical technology to confirm one of the decisions due to a lack of camera lines. Another contentious incident occurred in the game against St Johnstone when Haissem Hassan’s goal was disallowed after officials ruled the ball had gone out of play—a decision video referees admitted was difficult to verify with the current setup.

Ahead of the Old Firm clash at Ibrox in the League Cup, O’Neill expressed hope for fewer contentious calls but emphasized that improvements to the VAR system would require financial investment. He noted that upgrading to a level comparable to the Premier League’s technology would cost around £1.5 million annually, an amount he described as prohibitive for Scottish clubs.

Speaking about a recent meeting with referees, O’Neill said the officials remain open to addressing issues and improving consistency, acknowledging mistakes are inevitable during this period of adaptation. Despite the recent disputes, O’Neill insisted he harbors no ill feelings and pointed out that Celtic themselves benefited from a controversial VAR ruling earlier in the season. He referenced a call against Dundee United when a Kasper Høgh handball was upheld in the build-up to a goal, noting such decisions can go either way.

The Celtic manager’s remarks underline ongoing challenges facing Scottish football as it seeks to balance technological advancements with practical financial constraints. Without sufficient investment, the risk of disputed match incidents through VAR is likely to continue.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.