'I was impressed' - Ex-refs chief wowed by what VAR did in Rangers v Celtic

Keith Hackett has praised VAR for its speedy decision to rule out a Celtic goal against Rangers during their Scottish Cup quarter-final showdown.

The two Glasgow rivals put their Scottish Premiership title bids to one side as they met in the fifth Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox on Sunday.

Roared on by an increased away allocation of 7,500, Martin O’Neill’s side looked to have taken the lead after 35 minutes with their very first attempt on target through Daizen Maeda.

However, it was quickly – and correctly – chalked off by the officials, a decision which added to the drama of this historic fixture, and Hackett was impressed.

With Emmanuel Fernandez also seeing a goal disallowed in extra time, Rangers would go onto lose on penalties in gutting fashion.

Why was Celtic’s goal disallowed?

The visitors, albeit temporarily, drew first blood before VAR intervened.

Luke McCowan’s delivery into the box was flicked on by Liam Scales, and Maeda reacted sharply to beat Jack Butland with a diving header.

But VAR replays soon revealed that Scales had come from an offside position before his touch, leaving the officials with no choice but to chalk the goal off.

Watching on, Hackett, the former PGMOL chief, delivered a glowing verdict of the process.

“The Celtic goal was correctly ruled out for offside after VAR intervention,” Hackett exclusively told Ibrox News.

“I was impressed by the speed at which the VAR control centre made this correct decision.”

Not everyone is pleased with the technology, though. Indeed, Ally McCoist wants VAR to be scrapped after it failed to intervene when Micky Moore was fouled against Livingston.

VAR still a ‘mess’ in Scotland

Indeed, one swallow doesn’t make a summer, with VAR often under fire in Scotland.

John McGinn described the technology as a “mess” north of the border after three players were sent off during Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup victory against Motherwell.

On that occasion, referee John Beaton reviewed the second and third incidents on his pitchside monitor, but McGinn was critical of the angles shown to the man in the middle.

Elsewhere, Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin claimed there was no need for VAR to become involved with some incidents, believing it encourages players to cheat.

Both men may very well have a point, but the quick Old Firm decision showed it can work when applied properly and swiftly.

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