Three Hibs vs Celtic VAR decisions addressed as SFA verdict on Newell goal sent and ex-boss in 'shambles' rant

Hibs’ clash with Celtic was dominated by VAR talking points as red card woe again hit David Gray’s side during a 2-1 loss on Sunday.

The Easter Road team’s hopes of fourth, the last automatic European qualifier spot, were left hanging by a thread after Jamie McGrath’s early red card set the scene for a third defeat in a row following recent matches against Aberdeen and Hearts. Daizen Maeda opened the scoring for Celtic, but Joe Newell got a goal back on the stroke of half-time, not without controversy amid handball claims.

Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to find the winner for Celtic as Hibs head to Falkirk next week just two points in front of the side in sixth. They are six points away from catching Motherwell above them with an inferior goal difference and nine left to play for, although fifth can become a continental place, if Celtic win the Scottish Cup. VAR has been centre of discussion post-match and here are the three incidents that have thrust the tech into the limelight.

Jamie McGrath red card

McGrath was booked by referee David Dickenson before Don Robertson in the VAR room recommended an on-field check. The decision was branded ‘wild’ on commentary by ex-Hoops striker Chris Sutton and head coach Gray admitted he couldn’t defend his player. Grant Hanley was sent off against Aberdeen pre-split before Edinburgh derby dismissals for Raphael Sallinger and Felix Passlack.

Gray said: "It's like déjà vu in terms of going down to 10 men again. I thought Celtic started fast, as you would expect, but when you go down to 10 men, after everything I spoke about before the game about giving us the best possible chance to win, it makes it extremely difficult. I can't defend the red card. It's not the character and there's no intent there but it's a red card because of where the contact is. You want to be in it for the last 10 minutes to have a go, and we did that today. We had a real go at the end and had a big chance. When you get those chances you need to take them.”

Joe Newell goal

If the first use of VAR was universally seen as correct, the second landed right in the debatable category. Newell’s leveller for Hibs came on half-time after a lengthy VAR check for handball as he struck into the net, with claims made he had made contact with his arm, but VAR stuck with the on-field decision. SFA guidance to Sky Sports was that there was ‘insufficient evidence of a handball to overturn the on-field decision.’ Any handling of the ball in the direct lead up to a goal results in it being chalked off, so it was a big call for the officiating team to make, amid various opinions.

Pundits on the small screen and radio weren’t sure of the incident and ex-referee Keith Hackett thought it was a strike that could have been axed. He told Football Insider: “I have often made comments about the interpretation of the handball law. This is an incident where frankly, I would be ruling the goal out because of the deliberate action to control the ball with the use of the arm. Clearly, it is a subjective decision that created the requirement for a long review from the VAR team.”

Possible Celtic penalty after Josh Campbell challenge vs Benjamin Nygren

Finally for the VAR crew, they incurred the wrath of 2006/07 League Cup-winning Hibs manager and former midfielder John Collins. Hibs’ Josh Campbell was aiming to shield a ball out of play as Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren applied pressure. He went down under Campbell’s challenge inside the box and tempers flared, particularly in the Easter Road press box, as ex-Hibee and Celtic man Collins was fizzing no penalty was given in an angry rant.

He said on Sportsound: “If that goes to VAR, it’ll be a penalty, without a shadow of a doubt. Surely the VAR is going to come in here? The referee hasn’t seen it, obviously! That’s as blatant a penalty as you will ever see. I’ve just watched that on the screen. If the VAR have not given that as a penalty, then every single one of them involved should be sacked. It’s an absolute shambles.”