Celtic have been left furious after the latest Scottish football VAR Review laid bare just how costly a key decision proved in their defeat to Hibernian.
The Hoops went down 2-1 at Parkhead, but the fallout has only intensified after the release of the VAR audio — and it makes for uncomfortable listening.
Less than a minute after VAR intervened to send off Auston Trusty, Celtic were involved in another major flashpoint. Liam Scales was clearly held inside the box during a set-piece, prompting immediate appeals from players and supporters alike.
What followed has stunned many.
On VAR duty, Grant Irvine and Ross Hardie initially described the incident in a way that strongly suggested a penalty would be awarded. Irvine can be heard acknowledging the holding and the level of contact — the exact criteria typically used to justify sending the referee to the monitor.
Then came the turning point.
After a brief discussion, there is a noticeable silence lasting around 10 seconds before Irvine concludes: “Not enough for me.”
No review. No intervention. Play continues.
For Celtic, it was a decision that defied logic in the moment — and sounds even worse when heard back.
The frustration only deepened during the official review show, where head of refereeing Willie Collum openly admitted the call was wrong and that the on-field referee should have been sent to the screen.
That admission confirms what many already felt: Celtic were denied a clear penalty at a crucial stage of the match.
In the context of the game, the impact is impossible to ignore.
At 1-1 and down to ten men, a penalty would have given Celtic a huge opportunity to take the lead and potentially see the game out under pressure. Instead, they were forced to keep pushing, leaving space for Hibernian to capitalise — which they ultimately did through a late winner.
At the time, it felt like a poor decision.
With the audio now public, it looks even more difficult to justify.
For a side battling in a tightly contested title race, moments like this carry massive weight — and this is one Celtic will feel has cost them dearly.
Celtic vs Hibernian VAR AUDIO:
