Dermott Gallagher has warned that players, managers and punters in the Scottish Premiership shouldn't expect VAR to be 'utopia' in its early days.
The former Premier League ref was casting his eye over decisions from the weekend's games, including the penalty Ross County were awarded against Celtic. Matt O'Riley's attempted clearance cannoned back off an opponent from point blank range and hit his arm. Ref David Munro pointed to the spot, and his decision was backed up by VAR, allowing the Staggies to take the lead through David Cancola.
The hoops fought back to win the game thanks to goals from David Turnbull and Sead Haksabanovic. After the game, boss Ange Postecoglou embarked on a VAR vow of silence after also seeing a highly contentious penalty decision go against his team the previous week against Dundee United. Gallagher simply said that it was the type of decision officials were giving as penalties nowadays, and while he took a similar view of the latest award, but did have some sympathy for O'Riley.
"I think he's really, really unlucky, isn't he?" said Gallagher. "What can he do? It flicks up and definitely hits his elbow, there's no doubt about that. But it's given and that's it. You have to accept that it's not going to be utopia straight away. It is moving forward, as we saw with the Rangers clip before." The clip Gallagher was referring to was the re-run of the penalty Rangers needed to salvage a point at St Mirren in the lunchtime kick-off. Ryan Kent was taken out by Marcus Fraser in what looked a straightforward decisions.
But Kevin Clancy didn't point to the spot immediately, and instead booked Kent for diving.. He needed VAR to tell him to have another look before James Tavernier was able to dispatch past Trevor Carson to make it 1-1. Gallagher hailed VAR's intervention as a perfect example of why it's been brought in. He told Sky Sports: "The ball's a clue. When you see this, the ball goes and the defender doesn't get it. That's clear for me. Is it a foul? Yes.
"This is the good thing about VAR. Without it. That wouldn't have been given as a penalty in Scotland. People talk about them bringing it in halfway through and it's not fair on what's happened before. But do you want to continue seeing that not given, or do you want to take the initiative? I think they've done well to say yep there."
Finally, it was a question of positioning at Rugby Park as Killie beat Hibs 1-0 to pile more pressure on Lee Johnson. Danny Armstrong's penalty won it after Marijan Cabraja caught Liam Polworth. Ref David Dickinson didn't blow for a penalty as he was unsure whether the challenge had taken place inside the area or not.
"Again, this is a great example of why VAR has been brought in," said Gallagher. "Without VAR, it would have been given as a free-kick. It's a foul and the assistant sees it, but the referee can't tell where it is. When you look, it is just inside the penalty area."
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