Celtic manager Martin O'Neill insists VAR has been re-refereeing the game for some time after two contentious calls went against his side in a 2-1 defeat to Hibs on Sunday afternoon.
Auston Trusty was shown his marching orders on 74 minutes for violent conduct on Jamie McGrath, seconds before Liam Scales was denied a penalty after being hauled down inside the 18-yard box.
"I thought we played some really fantastic football," O'Neill said post-match. "We've gone in one each at half-time, we probably should have been in front at that stage.
"But the sending off obviously had a big effect, we had all the momentum at that stage.
"We had some chances in the second half, and obviously, if you don't put them away, there's always a possibility of a goal at the other end.
"I've just had a word with the referee, and he said that he was going to just have a word with the two players (Trusty and McGrath), first of all, then I think VAR intervened and said that it was violent conduct."
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Asked if VAR is re-refereeing the game, O'Neill added, "Well, they've been doing it for years now, so that's not going to change.
"At the end of it all, you can't do this. These are the rules now. It doesn't matter whether somebody's holding on to you at all.
"In an attempt to break away, you can't, I think, thrust down in the manner in which he did. So I've been told that's called violent conduct. Obviously, it's a setback, but that's what it is."
Trusty will now serve a suspension and miss Celtic's crucial trip to face Rangers at Ibrox next Sunday. Will the club appeal it? "Personally, I wouldn't have thought so myself," O'Neill said. "I don't know what's there.
"I don't know. Obviously, the referee has explained to me that that's what VAR said was violent conduct. I don't think anybody's going to change their minds about that."
Seconds after Trusty was sent for an early bath, Scales went down in the Hibs box under the challenge of Jack Iredale.
"Well, the referee said, I think his words were that he didn't hold on to him long enough," O'Neill continued. "But it seems a wee bit strange.
"You know, if you're grabbing somebody's shirt and he's making a move to try and get the ball, and you're holding on to his shirt, I thought that was... it was some years ago, it was a penalty some years ago, but I don't know."
Absent from Celtic's matchday squad this afternoon was January signing Joel Mvuka. He played 45 minutes against Dundee just over a fortnight ago and has not been in any matchday squad since.
"I think it's just getting used to the environment," O'Neill said. "These lads have played decent grades of football before. But it's the intensity here at this minute. And some players, like James Forrest, have been used to that sort of intensity. So we'll see.
"We'll definitely make a few changes for Thursday evening. And we'll take it from there."
O'Neill stuck with highly criticised goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for the defeat to Hibs.
"Kasper has been a really fine goalkeeper," he said. "He's been a member of a side that won the Premier League way back.
"Like everything else, you can't rest on laurels for the rest of your life. Everybody moves on. But it wasn't a big, big decision for me.
"I think I sat here on Thursday evening and said, he's made some big saves for us. And he made a big save when we were 1-0 down as well.
"So he came out, and he did fine. But I think that competition for places is something that should apply to everybody. Goalkeepers and outfield players. But I thought he showed some character today."
