Stuart Kettlewell backs down in Andrew Dallas VAR row

Stuart Kettlewell has backed down on his criticism of VAR following Motherwell’s 4-2 defeat to Micky Beale’s All-Stars.

In his post-match interviews the Fir Park boss questioned the VAR lines produced to justify the decision to allow the visitor’s third goal when Fashion Sakala appeared to be in an offside position.

Kris Boyd and James McFadden on duty for Sky Sports weren’t convinced by the image used, on social media the justification was torn to shreds with Andrew Dallas making the final decision.

Motherwell had made the score 2-2 in the 59th minute but Dallas’ decision left them 3-2 behind three minutes later, in the 69th minute they went 4-2 down with Callum Slattery given a second red card in the 76th minute.

The decision to allow the third goal to stand was the most significant of the match but summoned on to Sportsound on BBC Scotland today Kettlewell decided to focus on his side being reduced to 10 men.

Tuning in to Kettlewell this afternoon, Football Scotland reports:

He told BBC Sportsound: “I think that’s the biggest frustration for me. It’s not a second yellow but with the player’s reaction, and I’ve said this to Crawford Allan this morning and had a conversation with him – and look it was an amicable conversation, I just had a couple of questions I wanted answers on – but I did say I realise Nick Walsh’s job become incredibly difficult when the player goes down in the fashion that he did, holding his face.

“There was contact, but it wasn’t in his face. This is when you start to become frustrated. It’s a difficult one for Nick Walsh with the scenario he was given, but I don’t think it was a yellow card.”

On the goal, he added: “It has explained to be exactly how the officials see it, and how the guys in the VAR HQ see it. For me on the Max Johnston one the attacker’s line (for Kevin van Veen’s opening goal) was behind the defender’s line, but you could argue they were touching.

“For me on the Sakala one I felt that the defender’s line was behind the attacker’s line. Crawford Allan has cleared that one up for me. They now say that if the attacker’s lines are touching the advantage is going to go to the attacker.”

If the lines are drawn thick enough they will be able to get them touching.

Crawford Allan is a good friend of Sportsound, once breaking off a holiday to try and make a case for Kyogo Furuhashi being offside because it had upset Boyd and Robbie Neilson.