CHEATlNG Confirmed – Celtic R0bbed of Penalty as VAR Audio Finally Released

Celtic F.C. have been left seething after the latest Scottish football VAR review exposed just how decisive a controversial call was in their defeat to Hibernian F.C..

The Hoops suffered a 2–1 loss at Parkhead, but tensions have only escalated following the release of the VAR audio, which paints an uncomfortable picture of the decision-making process.

Less than a minute after VAR intervened to send off Auston Trusty, another major incident unfolded. Liam Scales was clearly being held inside the penalty area during a set-piece, sparking immediate appeals from both players and fans.

What happened next has left many baffled.
VAR officials Grant Irvine and Ross Hardie initially discussed the incident in a way that suggested a penalty was likely. Irvine even acknowledged the level of holding—criteria that would typically warrant sending the referee to review the footage.

Then everything shifted.

Following a short exchange, there was a noticeable pause of around 10 seconds before Irvine ultimately decided: “Not enough for me.”

No pitchside review followed. No intervention was made. Play simply continued.
For Celtic, it was a baffling call in real time—one that sounds even more questionable upon hearing the audio.

Frustration only grew during the official review programme, where Willie Collum, head of refereeing, admitted the decision was incorrect and that the referee should have been instructed to consult the monitor.
That admission confirmed widespread belief: Celtic were denied a clear penalty at a pivotal moment.

Given the match context, the impact was significant.

With the score at 1–1 and reduced to ten men, a penalty could have given Celtic a crucial lead and a chance to control the game. Instead, they were forced to chase the match, leaving gaps that Hibernian eventually exploited with a late winner.

It felt like a poor decision at the time.
With the VAR audio now public, it appears even harder to defend—leaving Celtic to reflect on a moment that may have cost them dearly in a tightly contested title race.