Whatever Craig Levein Might Think Celtic Does Not Fear VAR Nor Should We.
Craig Levein is bumping his gums again today, promoting the idea that we have something to fear from VAR because the loud noise of the crowd at Celtic Park will no longer be able to influence referees.
If I thought for a minute that was the only thing that did influence refereeing in this country, I would be halfway grateful for it.
Naked bias is a bigger concern, and that only affects us in an adverse fashion.
We certainly don’t benefit from it in any way.
Levein knows there is bias in Scottish football. He has been one of the more reliable people in the game when it comes to expressing that view. He also knows – but is less inclined to say – which club it favours. He said that VAR will not benefit Ibrox any more than it will benefit us, and I agree with him that they have legitimate reasons to be concerned.
But as usual he cops out of exploring it except through the prism of crowd noise. I don’t know why this guy doesn’t just say what’s obvious to all of us.
He is crazy to think that there are any concerns about this at Celtic Park except in the half-hearted way it is being implemented and the fact that we’re not starting the campaign to come with it already in place.
Long before a handful of decisions in our favourite converted Ibrox to the cause, we were fully in favour of VAR and pushing strongly for it.
We’ve been dying for this technology to gain wide use in Scotland, and whilst we are all – naturally – concerned by whose fingers are on the switch and who will decide what gets looked at and what does not, we are, in the main, pretty happy with the outcome.
Honestly, Levein can chase himself. Celtic is not afraid of reform, although we’ve never publicly led the efforts in that direction. Why should we be?
We know full well that the SFA refereeing fraternity is a cesspit and that anything which makes it harder for them to get away with their “honest mistakes” is a victory.
