A contentious VAR review overshadowed St Mirren's narrow 2-1 home defeat to Celtic this week, with former Scottish referee Bobby Madden dissecting the technology's application. The Paisley side's loss, which leaves them third in the Premiership with 10 points from five games, was punctuated by two disallowed Celtic goals that have sparked debate about officiating standards.
Read Celtic published Madden's technical breakdown, which focused on Camilo Duran's first-half goal that was ruled out. The former official suggested broadcast images shown to fans may not have matched those used by the Video Assistant Referee team. "I think the broadcaster has maybe provided the wrong kick point," Madden said, arguing that supporters were looking at an incorrect frame to judge offside. He explained that VAR officials can use different camera angles to determine the exact moment the ball is played, a process not always clear to those watching at home.
What did Bobby Madden say about the VAR images?
Madden's central argument concerns the lack of clarity provided to supporters. He compared the widely shared television image with the one he believes the VAR would have used, noting the VAR image did not clearly show the ball. This discrepancy, he stated, leads people to accept broadcaster claims "as gospel" without understanding the full decision-making process. His comments highlight an ongoing transparency issue with VAR in Scotland, where fans are often presented with confusing or incomplete visual evidence during matches.
The former referee's focus was on the Duran incident rather than all controversies from the match, which also saw Shim Mheuka have a stoppage-time goal chalked off after referee Ryan Lee was sent to the monitor. Madden noted VAR can switch to another camera angle to judge a player's offside status, a technical detail not always communicated during broadcasts. His analysis may strengthen arguments for upgrading Scotland's VAR technology and improving how decisions are explained to the public.
How does this affect St Mirren's season context?
The defeat, while frustrating, comes during a solid start to the campaign for Stephen Robinson's side. St Mirren currently sit third in the Premiership table, having taken 10 points from their opening five matches with a record of three wins, one draw, and one loss. Their goal difference stands at +3, having scored eight and conceded five. They remain five points behind league leaders Celtic, a gap they will look to close as the season progresses. You can track their position in the standings throughout the campaign.
What is the injury situation for the squad?
Managing the squad will be key, especially with several players currently sidelined. The treatment room list includes key figures like Keanu Baccus, Killian Phillips, Liam Donnelly, and Malik Dijksteel. Their absence tests the squad's depth ahead of a busy period. The full list of unavailable players is always updated on the club's injuries page.
Looking ahead, St Mirren's next challenge is an away trip to face Dundee United on December 12th. United currently sit 9th in the table, making it a significant opportunity for St Mirren to bounce back from the Celtic result. The team's recent form reads LWDWW, showing resilience after setbacks. Fans can plan for the upcoming match and others by viewing the full fixtures schedule. The squad travels to Tannadice on the 12th of December.
