“Rodgers Backs VAR as Celtic Extend Winning Streak with Controversial Penalty Calls Against Hearts”
Goals from Arne Engels and Luke McCowan secured a 2-0 victory, extending the Bhoys’ winning streak to six games at the start of the 2024/25 season.
After the match, Hearts manager Steven Naismith expressed his dissatisfaction with the VAR decisions, arguing that Celtic shouldn’t have been awarded the penalty that led to Engels’ goal. Despite James Penrice clearly handling the ball in the box, Naismith compared the incident to an earlier one involving Liam Scales. However, in that instance, the ball struck Scales above the ‘t-shirt line’. Both calls were ultimately correct after video reviews reversed the initial decisions.
Following Naismith’s remarks, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers responded, supporting the officials’ decisions. In a press conference, Rodgers acknowledged how pivotal the first goal was, stating, “If it goes to them, Hearts have something to hold on to. If it goes to us, the dynamic shifts.” He clarified that the rules were clear in both cases – one was not a penalty as the ball hit the sleeve, and the other was due to the player’s arm being away from their silhouette. Rodgers praised the referees and VAR officials for their handling of both moments, stating that the technology worked as intended.
Despite ongoing criticism of VAR in Scotland, Rodgers noted that the system functioned properly in this match, ensuring that the correct decisions were made after reviewing the incidents. While the referee initially got both calls wrong, VAR provided the necessary corrections. Hearts may feel unlucky given how close the calls were, but the final decisions left little room for dispute.