TBILISI, GEORGIA - AUGUST 10: Referee William Collum (c) pictured with Damien MacGraith, Francis Connor, Graham Chambers, Bobby Madden, Kevin Clancy ahead of the UEFA Super Cup between Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Dinamo Arena on August 10, 2015 in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Lewis - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
The third rate VAR system used by the SFA descended into complete farce at Dens Park today.
The SFA felt the need to fine Dundee last season for having a sub-standard pitch but it seems that they are unable to provide a VAR set up fit for purpose.
With the match level at 1-1 in the 88th minute Nicky Clark bundled the ball home from a couple of yards range after a corner hadn’t been properly cleared.
There were a lot of bodies in the six yard box which is exactly the scenario that VAR is supposed to clear up.
Except for viewers in Scotland where there is a lack of cameras and the drawing of lines by hand in contrast to the quality of VAR in use at Celtic Park, Ibrox and Tynecastle on European nights.
Explaining today’s incident The Sun reports:
However pictures of the 89th minute flash-point were INCONCLUSIVE following two handball shouts and an offside claim against the goalscorer.
Former Rangers forward Clark hit the net after the ball had struck Simon Murray and Adama Sidibeh at close range.
That led to a check of more than six and a half minutes between the ball hitting the net and getting the green-light – and much confusion and tension inside Dens Park.
That led to a check of more than six and a half minutes between the ball hitting the net and getting the green-light – and much confusion and tension inside Dens Park.
However the reason was shared with the managers by Clancy on the touchline and later confiremed by the SFA to the BBC.
They said: “It was not possible to properly draw the lines for possible offside against Nicky Clark. Clark’s body was blocked by other players on the camera, so they couldn’t get the body part clearly to accurately draw the line. So referee Kevin Clancy was called across to look at the angles himself.
“He agreed with the on-field call that it was onside. Had the goal been ruled out, St Johnstone would have been given a penalty anyway against Simon Murray, before Clarke stuck it home.”
Dundee boss Tony Docherty wasn’y buying that excuse, he told The Courier:
There was an offside decision to make, there is technology there to determine whether it isn’t offside but it didn’t work.
They couldn’t tell whether it was on or offside when they drew the lines so for me, where is the benefit from VAR?
It is a huge decision in the 89th minute of a derby. You have a situation there where the referee makes a decision but he can be assisted by the technology we have but he’s not. That’s the bottom line.
There are three teams in every match you play, the home team, the away team and the officials team.
All teams need to work together and that team of officials need help from VAR and they never got that today because they couldn’t determine whether it was offside or onside.
Willie Collum and his media minder Gordon Duncan are unlikely to be heard in the week ahead.
? Murray opens scoring for hosts
? Carey’s curling equaliser
?? Long VAR check
? Clark wins it at the endSt Johnstone came from behind to beat Dundee at Dens Park in Simo Valakari’s first game in the dugout ?? pic.twitter.com/NAOIpO4q5O
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 26, 2024
Dundee 1-2 St Johnstone: Nicky Clark the hero with late winner
Match report: https://t.co/oz6atrHwJM
— PerthshireAdvertiser (@The_PA) October 26, 2024
Lol the SFA a nickel&dime outfit with a nickel&dime set up for VAR,all done in the cheap.
Other leagues have the top of the range Rolls Royce VAR,but the SFA are stuck Lada version of it,relying on a dot to dot system to make a decision.
Now on to another matter and the daily sevco at their best again,they have Aberdeen as the headline article about moving to the summit and being top of the table and 3 points clear of Celtic.
Nowhere in the article does it mention sevco being 9 points behind Aberdeen.
You’re right again Joker,the SFA nickel and dime cheapskate version of var,some Hun numptie drawing lines with a crayon FFS, only in bonnie backward shcotland, aka ally absholutely MC coist.
More like del boys reliant robin 3 wheeled van with a puncture.
Serious payback for Dundee from The SFA for…
1) – Having the actual audacity to have a game v Sevco postponed and then not lie down to them and take two points off the newest club in The Scottish Premier League…
2) – Payback for voting for Celtic to get nine in a row TWICE !
The bigger picture is there. Maybe it’s time to give it a look!
At the end of the day all the professionals get their salary.
And live to win another day!
If you don’t know my opinion on VAR by now…Let.me clarify…It’s a feckin joke…It’s overly complicated…subject to abuse…and needs radically overhauled…But if it favours Sevco…It will stay…End of.
the new club also voted the same way as dundee in 2020 .