Ally McCoist wants VAR scrapped and says Scottish football ‘a laughing stock’

By Gavin McCafferty, Press Association

Former Rangers manager Ally McCoist claims Scottish football must get rid of VAR or continue looking like “absolute clowns”.

Scottish football’s refereeing standards have come into sharp focus after the penalty award that made Celtic favourites for the William Hill Premiership title, with Gary Lineker among those arguing it might be the worst ever VAR call.

Kelechi Ihenacho sealed a 3-2 win from the spot nine minutes into stoppage time, moving Celtic a point behind Hearts ahead of their title decider, after Motherwell midfielder Sam Nicholson was penalised for handball when referee John Beaton was called to the monitor by video assistant Andrew Dallas.

Nicholson looked like he had headed it clear, but footage showed the former Hearts player had his raised hand right in front of his forehead.

Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou argued it was one of the worst decisions he had ever seen and claimed his player’s arm was pushed in the way by contact with Celtic’s Auston Trusty, and was not extending his body. Hearts boss Derek McInnes branded the decision “disgusting”.

McCoist called it a “horrendous decision that has, once again, embarrassed Scottish football”.

The former Scotland international added on talkSPORT: “If anything good has come out of it, it was that awful a decision that the whole country is talking about it.

“We must get rid of VAR, particularly in Scotland. Because instead of helping officials, it’s making us look like absolute clowns. We are a laughing stock.”

Lineker posted on X: “This might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen (and there’s a lot of competition). Extraordinary given the significance.”

This might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen (and there’s a lot of competition). Extraordinary given the significance. https://t.co/glM1QiSQBC

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 13, 2026

Former Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling branded it “embarrassing for Scottish football” and former Scotland international Don Hutchison called it “one of the worst decisions of all time”.

The Foundation of Hearts expressed “extreme concerns” while Labour MP and former Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, who was instrumental in setting up the the club’s fan-ownership group, said on X: “Ok SFA you’ve made your point.”

He added: “Bizarrely all the controversial decisions went in Celtics favour. Surely by law of averages at least one would go against them.”

Motherwell director Greg Anderson, a representative of the Well Society fan-ownership vehicle which previously called for a supporter-involved review, said: “Tools are only useful if you know how to use them. If you don’t, they can be very dangerous. Time to rethink how we are using them or if we should be using them in Scottish football at all.”

Former SFA referee Steve Conroy did not think VAR should have intervened.

🟢 Here's the incident that resulted in Celtic's winning penalty at Fir Park, following a VAR check!

Motherwell vs Celtic & Hearts vs Falkirk reaction | Sky Sports Football now 📺 pic.twitter.com/kwFO6mOH7t

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 13, 2026

Conroy told BBC Radio Scotland: “This is an indication of a systemic failure from the SFA in how we deal with VAR. They have not got to grips with it. The same mistakes happen every week, the same officials are making these mistakes.”

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton claimed the incident showed why VAR was introduced.

He added on X: “The reaction from many high profile people is way over the top. John Beaton was advised to go to the monitor and saw that the ball hit the arm in an unnatural position.

“Bottom line is people would hate to see Celtic win the title again and that is all.”