VAR – ‘It Really Has To Stop,” Says David Potter

It really has to stop! This VAR can only be described as real rubbish. It is odd to be arguing from this point of view, because in this case VAR worked to Celtic’s advantage (not that we needed it!)

Full sympathy to Morton and Dougie Imrie, and a major black mark to referee Kevin Clancy who otherwise had a good game and who on this occasion himself did not think that it was a penalty, but allowed himself to be bullied by a TV screen into giving a penalty he did not believe in! It is not often that I have seen Celtic Park embarrassed, but that was certainly a major emotion as Aaron Mooy ran up and scored the penalty.

Why do we put up with this? My real fear is that something similar might happen in, say, the League Cup final. Say, for example, the score is 0-0 in the 88th minute when something like this happens. It would be difficult not to imagine serious violence occurring, no matter which side it favoured.

That said, this sad incident must not be allowed to detract from what was another good performance from our team. The other four goals were first class, and the play in the second half, albeit not over-productive in terms of goals, was very neat and smart. Tomoko Iwata looks like a really good recruit, and it was nice to see Bosun Lawal. (I thought that was the Chairman, but that is a different bloke altogether, apparently!)

It was a pleasant day and nice to see so many youngsters there, making their first trip to the stadium with proud parents and grandparents. They saw a fine Celtic side which could hardly be faulted in any respect, and the BBC audience would have been impressed as well. Morton started strongly, and one had to be impressed by the size of their support which dwarfed the size of the St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Livingston ones that we have seen at Celtic Park recently. Neither the Morton team nor their support would look out of place in the Premier League and we look forward to seeing them again soon. They will have done well financially out of today, and really deserved more luck from VAR.

We may have seen the last of Josip Juranovic. It is to be deplored, but it is not a disaster, for there is no lack of quality full backs at Celtic Park. Giakoumakis may be a different matter, for we need someone with an aerial presence, for Kyogu for all his other talents is really too small to be a good header of a ball.

So, no midweek game this week and we meet again at Tannadice next Sunday at 4.00 pm on League business, but before that, we shall find out this Sunday whom we are to meet in the next round of the Scottish Cup – our favourite competition!

David Potter