VAR's introduction into Scottish football is said to be “imminent” with the technology set to be in place before the World Cup. Two former top referees say that it will be brought in within a matter of weeks to the Scottish Premiership after weeks of trialling.
There had been some criticism over VAR being introduced during the season as games in the early part of the campaign wouldn’t have benefited from it. SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said he wanted it introduced as soon the technology was in place.
Refs chief Crawford Allan said at the SFA AGM in the summer that plans were in place to fast-track it and former whistlers Steve Conroy and Des Roache said it’s ready to go. Conroy told the Get Involved Referee podcast: "The word is that it is imminent. It has been trialled all season and by all accounts they are good to go. The latest fitness test for refs was on Sunday and there were meetings after that - so it might be more imminent than we think.
"I still think it should have been the start of the season or the start of next, but I think FIFA were in control of the training. The SFA are a spectacularly secretive organisation so saying nothing in public is nothing new but they have probably been a bit hindered by FIFA. However, why not be open about all the trialling? You would assume they will give us some notice - the clubs need to know more than we do."
Fellow former ref Roache said: "They have been dry-running it which is the correct thing to do and if it's ready why wait until after the World Cup? Let's go now. It's not often we say well done the SFA but if have everything in place now that's good. But I agree, just tell us that they are training their people and what date they are working towards.”
There have already been a number of big calls this season missed by referees which, hopefully, would be caught by VAR. The officials just hope there are not major issues but fear there will be.
Conroy added: "One thing is for sure we will be make mistakes here. They've had it England for over three years and it's still causing arguments but I don't think that's VAR I think it's the interpretation of it. I just hope that there is only an intervention for the big decisions in games and that we learn from the mistakes of others."
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