The SFA have launched a squirrel about introducing specialist VAR officials!
Doubling up on officials from the Lanarkshire Refereeing Association headed up by Andrew Dallas has had predictable results with all clubs except one on the receiving end of puzzling decisions.
Since it was introduced in mid-October Celtic have had seven penalties awarded against them, the club in second place haven’t had a penalty awarded them in the SPFL since January 2022- a run of almost 50 matches.
At the weekend Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Dundee United managers were very vocal about decisions that went against their teams- forcing the SFA into deflection mode.
Brian McLaughlin of BBC Scotland reports:
The Scottish FA are considering using specialist video assistant referees as one of several options to improve the use of the technology in the Scottish Premiership.
Controversial decisions were made during Saturday’s matches, sparking frustration from clubs.
Dundee United were angered by a penalty awarded to St Mirren and called for a meeting to discuss the process. VAR was only introduced in Scotland’s top flight in late October.
That report suggests that the current crop are a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs rather that professionals that understand the job and the technology available.
Where the pool of ‘specialist VAR officials’ come from isn’t identified, working at their usual speed neutral specialists aren’t expected to be in use before 2027.
what special talent do you need to spot the handball incident at tynecastle it was a stonewaller.
Whilst Petrie and his lapdog Maxwell are talking mince about VAR support,
why don’t they also consider bringing in ‘governance specialists’,
to help the Hampden Blazers improve how they do their job,
all the way up to ‘competent’ level?
Methinks they’ll have a shortlist. It’s not the technology that needs improved.