Celtic booked their place in the Champions League knockout phase on Wednesday night with a nervy 1-0 win against Young Boys.
Celtic dominated the first half, scoring three times, but all goals were ruled out: two for offside and one for a foul during the build-up. It was indeed an unusual half. While VAR frustrated Celtic, there was a pleasing new element for fans in the stadium.
A major concern for many fans in the stadium regarding VAR is the limited information shared with them compared to what TV viewers receive. If you frequently attend games, you may have found yourself messaging someone at home for explanations about situations happening live right in front of you.
Last night marked progress in eliminating these issues. UEFA and Celtic displayed explanations on the screens following each decision. Consequently, every VAR decision, including offside goals and the red card issued to Daizen Maeda near the end of the match, was clearly conveyed on the Celtic Park screens.
Although some leagues are trying rugby-style microphones for referees, this could serve as a compromise for the SPFL. If there’s a screen in the stadium, why can’t we receive timely explanations for these decisions? It proved to be very helpful during the Young Boys match, and we hope it continues.
