Celtic’s Disallowed Goal Sparks FURY — The Bizarre Reason Behind VAR Call Revealed

VAR was unable to weigh in on Celtic’s controversial disallowed goal against St Johnstone – because the ball went out of the camera frame before Kasper Hogh appeared to keep it in play.

The Hoops continued their 100 per cent start to the season with a 1-0 win in Perthshire, courtesy of Mika Baur’s first goal in a Celtic shirt.

But many of a Hoops persuasion felt it should have been more comfortable, feeling they were hard done by when Haissem Hassan’s 66th-minute strike was ruled out.

The game’s first and only real moment of controversy came when Sebastian Tounekti chipped the ball towards the back post, with Hogh then heading it back across goal for Hassan to convert.

Matthew MacDermid indicated the ball had left the field of play before Hogh kept it alive and the on-field decision was a goal-kick to Saints.

But many Celtic fans were left incensed when replays on social media appeared to show Hogh had in fact kept it in.

It’s now understood however that VAR were unable to intervene since, between Tounekti’s cross and Hogh making contact, the ball left the frame at the top right of the screen.

As such they were unable to rule on whether it was a clear error from the on-field official – and had to stick with his decision.

Upon watching the replay where the ball does leave the screen, Chris Sutton said during Sky Sports’ coverage: “The ball goes out of the picture for a second… maybe it curled heavily back in.”

He then posted on social media: Clean sheet and another big 3 points for Celtic. Frustrating final ball in the first half. Got there in the end. Baur neat and tidy with the all important goal. Maybe unfortunate not to win by more after a baffling decision by the assistant when he thought the ball went out…”

And lead commentator Ian Crocker later clarified: “Because the ball went out of the camera frame, VAR had to stick with the on-field decision.”