If the current Scottish football season was to be depicted in a movie then VAR Wars would surely be a fitting title.
The drama since the introduction of video refs nearly three months ago only relented for the World Cup but the first Old Firm derby since the technology’s arrival was always sure to bring it soaring back with full fury.
Connor Goldson ’s handball - or ball to hand depending on your viewpoint - which wasn’t checked by VAR, Carl Starfelt’s challenge on Fashion Sakala that was given as a penalty, Celtic’s subsequent approach to the SFA over their video assistant concerns and Chris Sutton’s questioning of Willie Collum’s competency to man the controls all had Hotline callers storming the phonelines. Brian Wright, Bannockburn, blasted: “Chris Sutton’s comments about VAR regarding Goldson’s ‘deliberate hand ball’ are way off the mark. If he checks the Daily Record photo in Wednesday’s paper he would see Goldson is not deliberately using a hand to stop a Starfelt shot at goal. There is very little distance between both players. If the incident is flipped, I’m sure he would be saying ‘never a penalty’.”
