While almost all media types switch into full on O** F*** Shame Game mode only one has stepped up to question the dubious use of VAR at Ibrox on Sunday. Michael Stewart.
Ten minutes before half-time Daizen Maeda delivered Celtic’s only effort on target over two hours of attrition.
A cross from Luke McCowan was headed on by Liam Scales with Maeda stooping low to head past blundering Jack Butland.
Every ‘goal’ comes with a VAR check, neither Don Robertson or his assistant saw anything wrong with the Maeda’s effort.
Andrew Dallas was on VAR duty, he is quickly building a reputation as staunch as his father, Hugh.
Andrew found himself on the lucrative FIFA list from the SFA before he had been put in charge of a single Celtic match.
VAR CREATES A FULL TIME SALARY FOR DALLAS
When a sore knee meant that Andrew could no longer referee matches the SFA created two full time VAR roles. Out of all the candidates Andrew and Greg Aitken were appointed.
Willie Collum knows the Dallas family very well, they are all members of the Lanarkshire Referee Association. Collum put Andrew Dallas on VAR duty at Ibrox knowing what to expect.
In Scotland VAR is very much managed by the operator.
As you watch UEFA matches this week automated VAR systems virtually rule out subjectivity. The favourite excuse used by Collum to explain away wrong decisions.
At Ibrox on Sunday Andrew Dallas had control of VAR with Matthew MacDermid by his side to give the appearance of competence. Of impartiality.
Dallas chose when to freeze the frame on McCowan’s cross. He then chose the closest part of Scales to the goal-line and the last defender.
Finally Dallas projected the lines, made the decision and informed Robertson. Five minutes later he released the dubious image as evidence to Premier Sports. Rory Hamilton was in full agreement with the decision. Viewers laughed at the farce of VAR put up by the SFA.
On the Premier Sports Social Club Stewart said:
I think I said it in the studio, when you look at a monitor that is 10-15 feet away and it’s not like a phone that you can zoom in on, it’s difficult. You just look at it, and it’s all about trust.
You’ve got to trust the lines are in the right place, but my gut is, I think Scales is offside, but Djiga, who is the deepest Rangers defender, the line is not drawn on him. His left shoulder, for me, appeared to be the deepest part of a Rangers defender. I think he would still be offside, but those lines just don’t look right.
The still image chosen was dubious. The two VAR lines ridiculous.
And yet only Stewart dares to question the evidence.
Most Celtic fans will agree that there is a decent chance that Scales was offside. But neither Robertson or his assistant thought so.
NO EVIDENCE TO DISALLOW THE GOAL
With all of the cameras available from Sky Sports Dallas was unable to come up with evidence that Scales was offside.
All that is required is one line from the last defender, drawn automatically across the penalty area.
Scales is either behind it and onside or touching the line and offside. The VAR image produced showed neither.
Just over a year ago Alan Muir dropped off the VAR list for disallowing another ‘goal’ from Maeda, this time against Hibs at Easter Road.
Muir had no evidence that a ball cut back by Alistair Johnston had gone out of play.
Dallas has no evidence that Scales was offside.
Will Dallas suffer the same fate as Muir and remain on the lucrative VAR circuit on account of his surname?
On Sunday Dallas is picking up a VAR payment for the Dundee Derby. Celtic fans will be watching closely for future appointments involving their club.
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VAR cheated Celtic. However this time it’s not even being allowed to be debated let alone analysed by the mainstream. https://t.co/3ZGeMB0IzC
— markbradley (@back2theegg) March 10, 2026
Pointless view.
Pointless angle.
Pointless lines.
Tells the viewer nothing, and essentially, the only point of releasing the picture is to show the viewer how the arrived at the correct decision.As well releasing a pic of Andrew Dallas with his thumbs up saying ‘trust us’ 👍 pic.twitter.com/k3mxIlCYos
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) March 8, 2026
