A curiously controversial afternoon from VAR at Rugby Park, but Celtic were awful

No excuses, we were outfought and outplayed but there were three significant VAR decisions in yesterday’s 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock that all went against Celtic…

Kilmarnock v Celtic – Viaplay Cup – Second Round – The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park Celtic s Sead Haksabanovic is tripped inside the penalty area.. Photo Steve Welsh

Yesterday’s League Cup defeat to Kilmarnock was a sore one to take.Not because we lost, defeats in cup ties happen all the time, it was more the way we lost.

We allowed Kilmarnock to bully us and we looked entirely devoid of ideas, it’s was quite frankly an abysmal performance from Celtic. It’s worrying that we couldn’t even muster a decent opportunity at a place were we scored nine goals last term.

Kilmarnock v Celtic – Viaplay Cup – Second Round – The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at the Viaplay Cup second round match at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park,  Sunday August 20, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh

Brendan Rodgers was rather reserved afterwards but you can bet your life he was fuming with the players and rightly so. Of course it’s early days and we are still top of the table, but any hopes of a treble have disappeared so early on, and that’s a huge disappointment.

Despite injury’s to key players it’s still evident we are weaker than last season. That urgently needs addressed.

Brendan again stated that we need more quality in the side, and let’s hope he gets his wish. If we don’t add at least two quality players in before the end of the window, there will be questions that need answered.

20th August 2023; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland: Scottish Viaplay Cup Football, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Liam Scales of Celtic with Gustaf Lagerbielke of Celtic

The Celtic Star was calling for Liam Scales to start yesterday because he was the only central defender with experience of playing on that surface, yet the manager opted to start new signing Gustav Lagerbielke. That was a mistake that’s down to the manager and it leaves Lagerbielke with a harder task now to establish himself.

There were three crucial and controversial refereeing calls in the second half yesterday and none of them went Celtic’s way. The Kilmarnock goal was quickly given the all clear by VAR despite their lines at least meriting more consideration.

Greg Taylor was elbowed in the face but VAR did’t look at this as a possible red card, Taylor had to off the park after receiving treatment as there was no booking for the elbow smash, and Kilmarnock scored when he was on the sidelines. Had a yellow been issued by the referee then Taylor would not have been off the park.

Photo Steve Welsh

Sead Hakšabanović was denied a penalty in the closing stages and the VAR check was even more hurried this time, yet our photos clearly show that there was indeed contact. Any referee looking at that on a monitor anywhere else in football gives a penalty. It was a stonewaller.

But the worrying aspect is the dreadful performance of so many of the Celtic players and the tactical and motivational failure from the dug-out. A read at Sandman’s Definitive Ratings is recommended because he sums up yesterday’s shambles of a Celtic performance perfectly.

READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic at Jock Tamson’s Bams

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

3 Comments

  1. Amazed how quickly var dismissed the clear cut penalty appeal in the closing stages yesterday not to mention the missed elbow to taylor by the ref and the var officials but the goal decision was crazy , going by the lines the scorer was clearly off side . Getting to the stage now that a var check needs var checked because something stinks …..

  2. CCeltic FC has to make officail complaint to SFA over the officiating of kilmarnock v Celtic he allowed goalkeeper to much time at kick outs not booking kilmarnock players from not alliwing freekicks by holding onto ball or standing in front of the decision to not red card player for blatint elbow no var stone wall penalty still no explanation we have to stop this persucusion of our Club for been who we are no club should put up with this hatred by a institution sfa

  3. Regardless of var which we really shouldn’t expect anything from we had almost 100 minutes of football to score at least one goal and we couldn’t and neither did we look like scoring, we also seem incapable of keeping a clean sheet no matter who we’re playing the 2 goals we conceded v ross county should have had alarm bells ringing and i know we’ve had a few more injuries than expected for this time of year we really haven’t improved since first game. Is it not time we hired a top quality defensive coach? Going to ibrox with no fans and the defense all over the place its extremely hard to feel confident of getting a result and CL group starts quickly too