The Scottish Premiership has released new angle footage from Celtic’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, providing further clarity over the controversial winning goal scored by Benjamin Nygren.
The strike had sparked fierce debate in the aftermath of the match, with former Rangers striker Ally McCoist among those insisting the goal should have been ruled out for offside.
Aberdeen caretaker boss Peter Leven also voiced frustration with the VAR process on the night.However, the newly released footage appears to confirm why the goal was allowed to stand.
Nygren found the net late in the match after reacting quickest inside the box, finishing from close range after a low delivery flashed across the six-yard area. The assistant referee kept his flag down, but VAR immediately reviewed the build-up.The check took longer than many expected as officials analysed the positioning of Nygren and the Aberdeen defensive line. Players from both teams gathered around the centre circle as the review continued.
When the decision finally came through, the goal was confirmed.
At the time, VAR graphics shown during the broadcast indicated that Nygren had been marginally onside when the decisive pass was played. Despite that, the decision continued to be questioned by some figures in the Scottish game.Now, the Scottish Premiership has released a new camera angle which clearly shows the positioning of the players during the moment the ball was delivered. The footage highlights that Nygren remained just behind the last Aberdeen defender when the pass was made, meaning he was legally onside.
The new perspective removes much of the doubt that surrounded the decision on the night.
McCoist had earlier criticised the call while speaking on talkSPORT, insisting the strike should have been ruled out and joking that the VAR official needed an “eyeball check.”Meanwhile, Aberdeen caretaker boss Leven had questioned the graphics shown during the review process.
He said: “It looks offside but why’s there not two lines drawn?
“There was only one drawn. But listen, right now it’s not going for us, these decisions in the game.”
Despite the protests, the updated footage reinforces the original VAR decision.Nygren’s goal ultimately proved decisive as Celtic secured all three points in the north-east. The victory allowed the Hoops to move above Rangers in the Scottish Premiership table and maintain momentum in the title race.
For Martin O’Neill’s side, the performance may not have been their most fluent, but the outcome was exactly what they needed during a demanding run of fixtures.
With the debate now seemingly settled by the newly released angle, attention quickly shifts back to the action on the pitch as the Premiership season heads into its decisive final stretch.