Hibs boss Lee Johnson has revealed his coaching staff have already got his side training for the looming VAR introduction which is edging ever closer.
VAR has been in the Premier League since 2019, and whilst it has come under much criticism for an array of contradictory and inconclusive results, the technology and software on offer have made the game fairer on the paper. Alongside La Liga, the Bundesliga and Serie A, VAR looks set to stay for the time being in the top leagues - and is now making its way over to the Scottish Premiership.
Fans have been split by the decision to implement additional help, but with a start date set for after the 2022 World Cup, clubs such as Hibs have already been training with that in mind to stay ahead of the curve; yet despite the preparation Johnson has begun, he is still in the dark over when VAR will be introduced, claiming that the decision to introduce it at any time 'is concerning'.
"Originally we were told it could be implemented at any point. I think that's quite a big adjustment halfway through the season and that's a bit concerning for me," Johnson said. “It's a realm I don't know, I haven't experienced it before.
"How you coach, defend, and block shots all come into consideration because the eye in the sky could nab you. We're already working with VAR in training, if it's an offside. We train with our coaching staff as linos and we decide if it was offside afterwards.
"We've got some IP cameras being set up over the next couple of weeks and my aim is to go to Ron Gordon and ask for a pitchside TV as well because then we can start properly using VAR in our training sessions to get used to it.
"At Bristol City we were one of the first in the league to have similar at training and it really aided our retention of information.”
READ NEXT
