---
title: "Michael Stewart highlights disgraceful VAR blackout that should have brought Celtic red card "
canonical: "https://readrangers.com/2026/05/10/michael-stewart-var-blackout-disgraceful-celtic-rangers/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Articles and Opinions"
published: "2026-05-10T13:39:10Z"
modified: "2026-05-10T13:39:12Z"
---

# Michael Stewart highlights disgraceful VAR blackout that should have brought Celtic red card

**The lack of a red card for Alastair Johnston wasn’t the reason Rangers didn’t get a result, but the disgraceful officiating changed the game.**

Celtic were by far the better team in the second half, but they should have started it with 10 men.

Incredibly, VAR did not intervene to send off Johnston for going over the ball and hitting Mikey Moore with the studs on the ankle.

A pointless apology and correction are likely to follow, but that is no use now, or in the aftermath.

What’s the point of VAR? What is the point of John Beaton (VAR today) when they can’t make simple decisions like this one?

> A good many people feared VAR/officiating would have a huge part to play in the title race. Hopefully it isn’t decisive but deary me. How the VAR can look at the replays and not see a red card has occurred is wild. [pic.twitter.com/k5a4jLfLhc](https://t.co/k5a4jLfLhc)
>
> — Michael Stewart (@mstewart\_23) [May 10, 2026](https://twitter.com/mstewart_23/status/2053457389777486208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## It’s not about the result, but the VAR failure impacts the outcome

Rangers will be accused of sour grapes for criticising the decision or asking for something to be done.

Nothing ever happens. The officials keep on getting it wrong, time after time.

Danny Rohl and the team’s performance will rightly be scrutinised and criticised, but that’s a separate issue.

This isn’t about getting beat, but if the right, clear and obvious decision is made, the game could have been different.

It’s hard to take and accept because of how blatant it is.