adminCeltic fc force to Issue urgent Statement after referee Don Robertson explaination surfaced online and went viral in record to referee and VAR error against Heart Fc
Celtic Rush to Release Statement as Don Robertson VAR Audio Goes Viral After Hearts Match
Celtic FC issued an urgent response on Monday following the viral spread of audio footage featuring referee Don Robertson discussing VAR decisions from the decisive Celtic vs. Hearts title clash. The recording, which appeared to capture Robertson explaining why two penalty appeals were dismissed, triggered outrage among Hearts supporters and forced Celtic to confront allegations of officiating bias.
What the Viral Audio Revealed
The clip, initially posted late Sunday, seemed to originate from an internal SFA VAR review. In the recording, a voice identified as Robertson states that Hearts’ penalty claims in the 67th and 98th minutes “did not meet the threshold for a clear and obvious error.”
Within 12 hours, the video had been shared over 400,000 times with the caption “referee admits it.” Hearts fans interpreted it as confirmation that mistakes were acknowledged but never corrected during the match. The two incidents in question: a challenge by Nicolas Kühn on Alex Cochrane inside the box, and a stoppage-time collision between Cameron Carter-Vickers and Lawrence Shankland. On-field referee Nick Walsh waved off both appeals, and VAR declined to step in.
Celtic’s Official Response
Celtic moved swiftly to separate themselves from the growing controversy. Their statement read:
“Celtic FC notes the circulation of audio claiming to be from an SFA review session with match officials. The club was not involved in this recording, did not authorize its release, and does not support speculation regarding its authenticity or context. We have full faith in the integrity of the officials and the VAR process. Our focus remains on football and backing our players and fans after a hard-earned title victory.”
While the statement avoided direct comment on the audio’s content, club sources indicated concern that the clip was being weaponized to suggest Celtic benefited from “behind-the-scenes influence.”
SFA and Robertson’s Silence
The SFA has yet to confirm whether the audio is genuine, though it has launched an investigation into the leak. Robertson himself has not spoken publicly. Under SFA rules, referees and VAR officials are barred from discussing live decisions outside formal reviews, and unauthorized leaks breach confidentiality.
Hearts have formally requested the SFA’s full review panel findings. Manager Derek McInnes, reflecting on the match, said: “We get apologies on Monday. That doesn’t give us points.”
Why the Audio Struck a Nerve
The clip resonated widely due to two persistent frustrations in Scottish football: VAR inconsistency and the perception that Celtic often benefit from favorable calls. Just days earlier, Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports that a critical replay angle of an Alistair Johnston challenge was “never available during the game,” preventing VAR from recommending a review. That explanation did little to appease Hearts supporters, who feel repeatedly disadvantaged by key decisions this season.
The independent VAR Review Panel has already ruled that both penalties awarded in a previous 2-0 Hearts win were incorrect, and it has flagged 26 VAR errors across the season—deepening doubts about the system’s reliability.
What Comes Next
The SFA is expected to release its findings on the Hearts vs. Celtic decisions within a week. Should the panel rule both non-penalties as errors, Hearts will receive official confirmation but no recourse to alter the result.
Celtic’s immediate priority is to quash the narrative ahead of their Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline. The club recognizes that even a hint of a “referee conspiracy” could tarnish their title triumph.
For Hearts, the viral clip has become emblematic of a season-long pattern they see as unjust. For Celtic, it’s an unwelcome distraction they aim to neutralize quickly. As one Celtic source put it: “We won the league on the pitch. We don’t need audio clips to change that.”
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