It’s not been a great weekend for officials both north and south of the border, even VAR wasn’t enough for them to get things right in the Premier League.
Three points were all that was the difference in England whereas in Scotland it was a trophy that Hibs were potentially robbed by not just one, but three big moments that all went against them – some conspiracy isn’t it?
Thankfully, our three points were largely due to the officials getting one right, the most blatant of hand balls being spotted by the assistant referee, something that former referee chief, Keith Hacket has applauded on Ibrox News:
“Great position, good referee – I’ve seen him before – spot on.
“Well done referee, good teamwork. I just hope that they don’t lose that teamwork when VAR comes in because that’s one of the things that’s been lost in England.
“The Scottish referees again, they look, fitter, in good positions – they take a lot of stick but that’s because they’re seen often. There’s fewer of them and they are exposed more.”
The referees get stick because of the number of mistakes they make, you only have to look at Celtic’s last four or five games – I’ve lost count – to see opposition managers complaining about decisions that have went against their team, almost as if they have put pressure on the refs recently.
VAR still has it’s detractors but in Scotland, it will at least, help to rectify the issues that have seen offside goals given or penalty calls not awarded, officials don’t have an easy job and they are far from perfect but every little help must be afforded to make their job easier, starting with holding those to account who look to claim conspiracy and make sinister accusations.