Stiliyan Petrov rejects Celtic VAR conspiracy theory as Hoops legend identifies reason for goal scrutiny

Celtic are this season's top scorers in the Scottish Premiership with 78, though that

Celtic legend Stiliyan Petrov has claimed that there is no hidden and underlying theory surrounding Celtic's VAR checks for the goals they score in the Scottish Premiership - insisting that the style of play and movement of strikers leads to more close calls.

The Hoops are this season's top scorers in the division with 78 goals from just 25 games. Ange Postecoglou's men are well on track to beat the post-2013 Premiership record of 106 that they set themselves in 2016/17, and could even beat the club-record of 116 league goals they notched over 100 years ago in 1915/16. Of course, they have also had more than a few goals ruled out or even checked via VAR this year, leaving fans to come up with the theory that as the league leaders, they are scrutinised more than other teams worse off in the division.

But Petrov has refuted those claims. The Bulgarian, who was part of the Hoops furniture from 2000 to 2006 in which Celtic won 10 major honours during his time at the club, does not believe in the conspiracy theories that are thrown up from the Parkhead faithful that the officials have it in for them - instead insisting that the reason for more of their goals being monitored is due to the style of play that Postecoglou has instilled in the east end of Glasgow, especially with the movement of Kyogo meaning that they constantly play on the shoulders of opposing defences.

Petrov tweeted a response to a tweet on Monday that claimed officials try 'everything possible' to not award goals, saying: "There is definitely a higher possibility, for Celtic goals to be check[ed] constantly.

"Unfortunately the style of play and the movement of the players encourage it. Especially Kyogo, who plays off the shoulders and constantly on the move.

"But, they do check pretty much all goals."

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