Too many mistakes are happening- Hibs chief speaks out following VAR talks with the SFA

Ben Kensell has revealed that robust and constructive talks have gone on between clubs and the SFA over VAR.

The Hibs chief feels that his club has been on the wrong end of a number of decisions with VAR exposing the lack of quality and understanding among match officials rather than the equipment in use.

At the Celtic AGM Michael Nicholson told shareholders to expect teething issues, four months on it seems that the issues aren’t showing any signs of easing.

Last month St Johnstone successfully appealed against a red card shown to Nicky Clark at Ibrox with the decision made by Willie Collum with Nick Walsh in full agreement on VAR duty.

Speaking to The Scotsman, Hibs CEO Kensell said:

As a club we are trying to have constructive conversations behind closed doors but we are getting immensely frustrated that the same mistakes are being made despite technology being there and despite minutes being spent on decisions.

We just can’t see how some of the decisions are being made so we are challenging that the whole time.

In truth, they do come back to us and the conversations that we have are constructive. They are robust at times in terms of the nature and the tone, but it has never got to the point that they refuse to discuss the reasons why or accept that some mistakes have been made.

As a collective of clubs we need to make sure that we eradicate the mistakes and improve the level of refereeing. We have to accept that mistakes can happen and some tough calls have to be made based on opinions. But there are too many mistakes happening and, when it is an error based on watching something several times, from different angles, then that’s hard to accept. There are people’s livelihoods on the line, points to be played for and money at stake.

Kensell isn’t used to the secretive ways of Scottish football, before joining Hibs in August 2021 he was Chief Operating Officer for three years with Norwich City.

It is over 13 months since a penalty was awarded against the Ibrox club in the SPFL, since VAR was introduced in October Celtic have conceded five penalties in the SPFL.

Since VAR was introduced Crawford Allan and the refereeing department have gone into hiding with decisions every weekend showing that two paid officials don’t understand the Laws of the Game.

It seems that referees have been handed discretion to make their own decisions on a game to game basis.