IAN MAXWELL insists the introduction of VAR in the Premiership next season cannot be viewed as a bad thing.
The video technology utilised to help officials when making decisions in-game will start operating in Scotland's top flight after the five-week break for the 2022 World Cup.
SFA chief executive Maxwell appeared on BBC Sportsound this afternoon as he defended the timing of its appearance in domestic Scottish football.
In last week's show, Craig Levein, Stephen Craigan and Lee Miller all stated that they were against the introduction of the technology midway through a season.
The host, Jonathan Sutherland, said their reasons for this standpoint were down to sporting integrity issues.
He then put it to Maxwell to ask what the defence for the case is.
And Maxwell was adamant the sooner VAR is brought into Scottish football, the better.
He said: “I don't get that argument. If you’ve got a mechanism to make more decisions – better decisions – then why would you not get it in as soon as you possibly can?
“I don’t get the thought process that you wait until everybody’s played a number of games or you wait until everyone’s played each other in the season.
“I’d want to have it introduced as soon as we possibly could do it. I don’t see the value in waiting.”
Kenny Miller was a guest in the studio this afternoon.
He provided his thoughts: "What will happen is 'well if VAR has been in place at the start of the season then we would've got this and that'.
"We're just going to have to accept that's going to happen.
"Whether it be for a league title between Rangers and Celtic or if it's for a relegation situation.
"'If VAR was in we'd have had an extra two points and we'd have beeen safe.'
"Every single team will be affected by it.
"For me, I've never been a fan of VAR. I'll be honest. I think we'll still discuss situations.
"It's still open to interpretation in some situations.
"There's still a human element of it that we're going to sit when analysising and expect every decision to be right now. It's not going to happen.
"I wouldn't bring it in half-way through for that reason. The months are going to be backtracked on. I think it'll cause issues."
Motherwell player Leanne Crichton was then asked for her views, as she agreed with Maxwell.
She said: "I think we need to bring it in when it's ready, as soon as.
"I can see both sides of the argument. I've been a player that's been impacted by VAR and its good moments and bad moments.
"I think for the greater good of the game, we're falling way behind the rest of Europe.
"We wouldn't be the first European country to bring it in half-way through. It has happened elsewhere, I think.
"I don't think it'll run seamlessly once it's brought in. You're going to have trial and error."
