London calling? John Hartson makes big VAR wish

John Hartson has suggested that the SPFL bring in VAR officials from London. 

Today SPFL clubs voted through the introduction of VAR technology which will be introduced in December, following the winter break which ties in with the World Cup Finals. 

Much of the focus will now switch to who will be involved in VAR which in theory could be managed from outside of Scotland. 

VAR has been part and parcel of the EPL since the start of the 2018/19 season with a pool of trained officials familiar with the technology. 

Discussing the introduction of the technology on Go Radio, the Daily Record reports Hartson saying: 

VAR has to come in because it will help the referees. As long as we get the right people sitting behind the VAR. Maybe people that come up from London, who have not got any allegiances to any football clubs in Scotland. 

Because otherwise your’e going to have the same problems. You’re going to get decisions and people will be making all sorts of things up – ‘who does this guy support, where do his loyalties lie?’. 

It will go on and on, it will run. But I have to say Bobby Madden’s performance at the weekend was dreadful.  The referee – how many occasions should he have booked a player? Not just for Celtic but for Rangers. 

He let so many go there could have been a couple of sending offs. He almost chose to ignore it. 

Not much detail has been released about VAR although there has been some trial matches involving under-age teams. 

After four seasons of use in the EPL there are still regular controversies over decisions with Scottish football adding to the issues by bringing VAR in halfway through next season. 

CLICK HERE for SPFL statement on VAR