Key Points
- Scotland international John McGinn criticised VAR in Scotland as “a mess” following controversial decisions in Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup win over Motherwell.
- Aberdeen defeated Motherwell 2-0 amid three red cards, including a contentious upgrade for Motherwell’s Liam Gordon after VAR review.
- Aberdeen’s Dennis Geiger also received a red card for a high challenge following VAR intervention.
- Motherwell manager expressed frustration over VAR decisions that altered the game’s momentum.
Scotland (Glasgow Express) February 19, 2026 – John McGinn has described Scotland’s VAR system as “a mess” after a chaotic Scottish Cup match between Aberdeen and Motherwell saw multiple red cards issued following video reviews.
The 2-0 victory for Aberdeen at Pittodrie was marred by controversy, with three dismissals impacting the last-16 tie. Motherwell’s Liam Gordon had his yellow card upgraded to red for hauling down Toyosi Olusanya, a decision deemed dubious by many observers.
What sparked McGinn’s VAR criticism?
John McGinn, the Scotland international watching from the sidelines, took to social media to voice his anger at the officiating. “Scottish VAR is a mess. I’ve sent you to the screen let’s send you to an angle from the North Sea to back it up,” he posted, capturing widespread frustration in Scottish football.
As reported by Evrimagaci, the drama escalated when Aberdeen’s Dennis Geiger was shown red for a studs-up challenge on Lukas Fadinger after VAR consultation, leaving both sides reduced to ten men before Motherwell went down to nine.
How did Motherwell react to the decisions?
Motherwell felt the decisions robbed them of momentum, particularly Gordon’s sending-off early in the second half. Their manager highlighted the impact, stating the call “changes the game completely because we grew momentum. We were the better team.”
Was the Gordon red card justified?
The manager added: “I don’t get it from any angle how that can ever be a red card… the second one is without a question never, ever, ever a red card.” Interim Aberdeen boss Peter Leven acknowledged his side’s need for improvement but focused on the result amid the chaos.
What does this mean for VAR in Scottish football?
The match reignited debates over VAR’s implementation north of the border, with Motherwell’s Christian Askou questioning its use while not rejecting the technology outright. “I don’t know if it’s VAR, we have the ability to double-check decisions,” he remarked.
According to Evrimagaci reporting, such incidents underscore ongoing tensions with video technology in Scottish competitions, prompting calls for review from players and clubs alike.
