So the SPFL released a refresher on VAR today, to let people know what to expect from it. The news is pretty much as we expected it to be; it will cover four critical areas and no others. That’s the understanding most of us have had about the technology since discussions about it were introduced. The four areas in which it will apply are these;
1) Any issue involving a straight red card.
2) Any incident involving a penalty kick.
3) Any issue involving a goal .. to check for fouls or offside’s.
4) Any mistaken identity where a player is carded.
That’s the remit. As many of us have written, this leaves entire areas of the game in which it will have no impact whatsoever. This is not a huge concern; we watch as our players are fouled and the game is allowed to go on. We see baffling decisions which make no sense except that they break up the rhythm of the team. We see players booked in extraordinary circumstances.
The concern comes with the reminder that VAR basically has an advisory role only, and it depends on what those operating it choose to highlight to the ref. The guy who will be behind the camera for the Hearts game is Steven McLean. That name is grimly familiar.
We’re essentially caught here in the same doom-loop. The usual suspects will be in charge of the technology and they will only be able to advise that their brethren check the footage. At the end of this it will still be in the hands of the most incompetent – and that’s me being kind – officials in Europe. This will still be their decision to make.
I understand exactly why some of our fans are still very unsure that we should be backing this. I completely understand why so many of our supporters do not believe that it will make a blind bit of difference, and why some think it might actually make things worse.
Still, I remain broadly in support of it. It will put refs under real scrutiny even those who run the systems. But clubs must be able to question the decisions if those decisions run counter to what is on those screens. Leaving it up to the officials who have made this technology necessary in the first place just feels plain wrong. And dangerous.
The lunatics are in charge of the Asylum ! Ahh ,juicy fruit !
The problem we have, as I see it, is that it’s been in operation in the EPL now for a few years and they still get it wrong. CLEAR AND OBVIOUS errors are meant to be called out. So when they are checking for offside, how can that apply when it’s a marginal call? That’s not something you can say is a clear and obvious error.
This is the stuff we are going to hear from the pundits. “Ah but it wasn’t a clear and obvious error ….” as another decision goes against the Hoops.
IT’S A PENALITY TO RANGERS!!!!!! [sic]
We would be as well getting Stevie Wonder to work VAR we would get better results
How VAR will work in Scotland: (a) Review when Celtic score; (b) Review when Rangers* fail to score; (c) Ignore when Celtic miss; (d) Ignore when Rangers* score.
For me a typical conversation from the MIB to the VAR man when celtic score .
Find me something ,there must be something .
I am also convinced that madden was uttering those very words to the 4th official when Reo scored the first goal against sevco at CP in the 3-0 game
Even though VAR was not in operation
Sounds like an snp remit, anything they touch turns to dust.
Aye right you are then,… off you go back to your kindred spirits on Follow,Follow.
SNP baaaad. How original.
Aye. Away back to your wee rock in the pond ya Unionist jobby.
It’s gonna be a right laugh,not
It will make it harder for these biased officials tae get away wi as much, although further down the line, ah suspect we’re still gonnae see some ridiculous, infuriatin decisions that’ll become more frequent.
Hearts away just finished. VAR ( video assistance *Rangers*) what an absolutely che*t*n performance from the officials McLean and Walsh,what’s there excuse for the handball DIDINT THEY SEE ( old excuse pre var ) ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS LOOK AT THE BLOO ) Y TV MONITOR.
This is blatant Celtic directors have to push for change ( sevco 5088 supporting referee’s must be made redundant.)
I wasn’t impressed with VAR yesterday. It probably cost Celtic an easier win (which they deserved) and it possibly helped Sevco get a draw against 10 men (not sure as haven’t seen incident). Thing I noticed though is that Ange’s mantra of “we never stop” is going to be impacted by VAR. Too many long stoppages means teams will get respite while flow of game will be affected too. Another reason why VAR is not good.