GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 07: Referee John Beaton and Willie Collum during a cinch Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, on April 07, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The SFA has announced the appointment of Martin Atkinson as their second VAR Manager of the season.
After his high profile appointment, Jon Moss quit after barely a month for an as yet unknown opportunity of a lifetime which increased the spotlight on Willie Collum who replaced Crawford Allan as Head of Refereeing during the summer.
With three full-time VAR officials Atkinson’s hands will be very much tied but he can assess the other officials to see which ones show the most promise for carrying out the job.
At the weekend there was a number of VAR controversies with little in the way of explanations for supporters, players and managers to work on to get a better understanding of how the Laws of the Game are being applied.
Collum told the SFA website:
I am delighted to appoint someone of Martin’s calibre as VAR Manager. I did not expect to be recruiting for that position again so quickly, but Jon received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and went with our best wishes.
I am pleased Martin has agreed to continue the considerable work undertaken to date in optimising our VAR operation and I’m sure our VAR officials and match officials generally will look forward to working with someone of Martin’s experience at Clydesdale House, as will I and the rest of my team.
Atkinson added:
I look forward to this exciting new challenge and have been impressed by the significant strides forward Scottish football has taken with VAR implementation since Willie arrived. I look forward to continuing that work and supporting Willie, the match officials and the team at the Scottish FA.
So far Collum has taken part in two VAR Reviews that have attempted to bring transparency to how the Laws are being applied.
Those shows have set a benchmark for other similar decisions to be judged with the main complaint being over the inconsistencies involved.
This weekend Andrew Dallas will be on VAR duty for the League Cup semi-final between Celtic and Aberdeen on Saturday with Alan Muir covering the other semi-final.
He’s going to have his work cut out with so much corruption in the ranks. Andrew Dallas, (in my very humble opinion) should never be allowed anywhere near VAR or any form of officiating ever again in Scotland. He, like his previously exposed father, has openly nailed his flag to the mast a very long time ago!
The SFA sent us a very clear message today by appointing him in fact, as the VAR cheat in charge for Saturday’s game.
So expect the usual bad, anti-Celtic decisions or “honest mistakes” from him.
We will need to do it the way we always knew we would.
Off topic here but wee Barry Dingle in the daily sevco today screaming like a madman for sevco to sign Jordan Henderson,with no backup as to how to finance the deal.
A statement like that after the day before when the klub posted a £17 million loss.
Definitely not the brightest bulb in the box. IQ of a peapod.