Rangers News

“I think they’re wise” – VAR in Scotland given thumbs up by ref supremo

|

This week, of all weeks, we have seen that the SFA/SPFL is considering the implementation of VAR in Scotland’s top flight and in the country’s biggest games, another reminder that the governing body will rarely get it’s priorities right.

We still have some teams playing with just one ball every match day – until they fall a goal behind – part-time referees taking charge of fixtures that could lead to death threats if a certain team doesn’t get their way and officials getting criticised on social media when they apply the letter of the law, just because the law has benefitted Rangers.

These are things I’d like us to have in place first, however, if VAR is implemented correctly, well communicated, and used for the right things, it could help reduce the conspiracy nonsense from those across the city – ach, who am I kidding, right?

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League referee chief, Keith Hacket, believes that by bringing ex-whistler. Howard Webb, in to consult on VAR, it could see us avoid the mistakes that were made in it’s early days down south:

“I think they’re wise.

“It’s great that Howard is going to be talking to them because he, of all people, has implemented VAR in MLS better than anybody else around the world. There’s open communication, dialogue, weekly reporting, media requirements. They’ve done everything right.

“For the referees that are going to be VAR operators, recognise that the man in the middle is in charge. When it comes to offside decisions, use that thicker line. I would like it even thicker than it is in the Premier League.

“For me, I would introduce it. I think that’s what they’re going to do. That’s why they’ve got Webb there.

“Train the guys right. Even to the extent of running one or two reserve games with VAR. What is important is match practice from the referee’s point of view and the VAR standpoint.

“Despite all the negatives, in England I think we’re getting it right. They’ve now got an opportunity to shortcut it and not have the problems that we’ve had in England. For me, the SFA and the management of the referees seems to be much better than it is in England.”

What started off as a debate about Ryan Porteous’s wild challenge on Joe Aribo, has turned into Celtic fans bleating about refereeing conspiracies and videos of penalties that they didn’t get 25 years ago, it’s amazing what happens to them when they aren’t winning every week.

1 of 10

Rangers went toe-to-toe with Inter Milan to sign Ronaldo when he left Barcelona.

It must be the worst conspiracy in the world when you consider they won everything for four seasons including being handed a title with nearly a quarter of the games still to be played, a league cup with an offside goal and a Scottish Cup against an unfairly relegated Hearts side the season after it was due to be completed.

Hackett is right though, if Scottish football is to take this step, it has to do it properly. There are plenty of examples of it working smoothly and also of where things go wrong, we should be able to pick and choose the good aspects of the technology and make it as easy as possible for the officials to implement, it should be an aid to getting decisions right, not a hindrance – not that it will stop moon howlers of a green and white persuasion of claiming a sinister collective is at work when things don’t go their way.

Share this article