Celtic news: Kieran Maguire issues VAR ‘bias’ claim after £1.2m payout
Celtic chiefs will be happy with the Scottish Premiership decision to implement VAR – but the system will not eliminate “accusations of bias.”
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after VAR’s dramatic introduction to Scottish football.
As relayed by BBC Sport, Celtic were at the centre of the league’s first VAR intervention in their 4-3 win at Hearts on Saturday (22 October).
Lawrence Shankland scored from the spot after Cameron Carter-Vickers was adjudged to have fouled Cammy Devlin inside the area on the stroke of half time.
The video referees denied the Hoops a spot-kick of their own moments later after Michael Smith appeared to hand a James Forest’s cross.
VAR also ordered a retake after a second Shankland penalty, this time in the 65th minute, was saved by Joe Hart only for Josh Ginnelly to score the rebound.
It is understood that VAR will cost Scottish Premiership clubs a combined £1.2million per season.
Maguire assessed how Celtic’s decision makers will feel about its baptism of fire at Tynecastle.
“The conclusions of VAR south of the border are that it is fine provided it works in your favour,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“It’s a lot like referees’ decisions in that respect.
“It would help in terms of accusations of bias which are quite prevalent as far as Scottish football is concerned.
“Although, of course, those accusations could be maintained at the people who are making the VAR decisions themselves.
“VAR in theory and in practice reduces the error rate as far as incorrect decisions are concerned. Those people, which I think will include stakeholders at clubs such as Celtic, will no doubt welcome that outcome.”
In other news, Tam McManus issues “huge” Kyogo Furuhashi prediction amid Celtic “embarrassment”.