adminCeltic VAR controversy deepens after Camilo Durán goal is ruled out
Celtic’s meeting with St Mirren on Saturday has been overshadowed by another controversial VAR decision after Camilo Durán appeared to score, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
The decision immediately sparked anger among Celtic supporters, many of whom questioned how Durán could have been judged offside when the television replays appeared to show the forward in an onside position.
The incident occurred during an entertaining first half at the Marbill Coaches Stadium, with Celtic attempting to preserve their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership season.
Brendan Rodgers’ side had won all four of their opening league matches, while St Mirren had also enjoyed an impressive beginning to the campaign and entered the fixture second in the table.
Celtic believed they had drawn level when Durán found the net, but the assistant referee raised his flag. Following a VAR review, the decision was upheld and the goal was eventually disallowed.
That call has since become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the match.
What happened with Durán’s goal?
The controversy focused on the precise moment the ball was played towards Durán.
From the initial television footage, many supporters struggled to understand why the Celtic attacker had been deemed offside. Different replay angles appeared to offer different interpretations, with some making the decision look extremely close.
The situation was made even more complicated because the ball and the players involved were not completely visible in every available camera angle.
While some supporters believe the VAR team had enough information to reach its conclusion, others argue that the evidence was not sufficiently clear to justify overturning the goal.
The debate quickly spread across social media, with supporters sharing replay clips and examining individual frames in an attempt to establish exactly where Durán was positioned.
Why Celtic supporters are furious
The anger surrounding the decision goes beyond one disallowed goal.
Durán has been one of Celtic’s standout attacking players during the opening weeks of the campaign, having already scored six goals in five appearances before Saturday’s fixture.
He had also found the net during Celtic’s 3-0 victory over Aberdeen earlier in the week, making the decision to rule out his effort against St Mirren even more frustrating for supporters.
The main concern for fans has been the apparent lack of clarity.
VAR was introduced to help eliminate obvious refereeing mistakes and provide greater accuracy in crucial moments. However, when supporters cannot clearly understand why a goal has been overturned, the technology can end up generating even more controversy.
That appears to be what happened at St Mirren.
VAR communication problems add to the frustration
The Durán incident was not the only VAR-related issue during the match.
The second half was reportedly delayed after referee Ryan Lee experienced communication difficulties with the VAR officials.
The referee was seen attempting to resolve the problem before returning to the pitch, with communication eventually understood to have been restored.
The technical issue added another layer to an already controversial afternoon.
For supporters who were already questioning the offside decision, the communication failure inevitably raised further concerns about the reliability and effectiveness of the VAR system being used in Scottish football.
Celtic fans want answers
Celtic supporters have continued to examine the available footage, with many sharing screenshots and replay clips online.
Some believe the goal was clearly legitimate, while others accept that additional camera angles available to VAR officials could potentially provide evidence that was not shown during the live broadcast.
That is an important distinction.
VAR officials may have access to synchronized footage and angles that television viewers do not see. However, that has not stopped supporters from demanding a clearer explanation of the decision.
For many fans, the issue is not necessarily that a decision went against their team. Instead, they want to understand exactly how the officials arrived at their conclusion.
Pressure grows on Scottish football authorities
The latest controversy comes at a difficult time for the SPFL, which is already facing considerable attention following its recent decision concerning Celtic and Rangers supporters.
The league confirmed that away fans will not be permitted at Celtic-Rangers fixtures in SPFL competitions for the remainder of the 2026/27 campaign following an independent review into disorder surrounding their Scottish Cup quarter-final in March.
Against that backdrop, another major controversy involving officiating and VAR is unlikely to be welcomed by Scottish football authorities.
Supporters will now be watching closely to see whether any further explanation is provided over the Durán incident and whether the correct VAR procedures were followed.
VAR debate refuses to disappear
The incident has once again exposed the wider debate surrounding VAR in Scottish football.
The purpose of the technology is to correct clear and obvious errors, particularly in situations such as offside decisions where precise technology should theoretically provide a definitive answer.
However, when a decision is so marginal that supporters are left studying individual frames and debating different camera angles, frustration is almost inevitable.
For many football fans, an unpopular decision can be accepted when the reasoning behind it is obvious.
The real problem arises when the evidence appears inconclusive.
Celtic’s season remains on course
Despite the controversy, Celtic’s primary objective remains their push for another successful Premiership campaign.
The club went into Saturday’s match at the top of the table with 12 points from their opening four league fixtures, while St Mirren had collected 10 points.
That made the encounter particularly important, with both sides among the early pace-setters.
The disallowed Durán goal could therefore prove significant depending on how the season develops.
For Celtic supporters, the central questions remain unanswered: if Durán was offside, what evidence established his position? And if the evidence did not conclusively show an offside offence, why was the goal overturned?
Until there is a clear explanation, the controversy is likely to continue.
What should have been a discussion about Celtic’s performance and their title challenge has instead become another major debate about VAR, officiating and transparency in Scottish football.
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