Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish wants clearer communication and information from the Scottish FA on VAR decisions after being unimpressed with the technology last week.
Referee John Beaton wasn’t asked to review any calls on the sideline during the derby between Celtic and Rangers despite some debatable calls in both boxes. It seemed VAR official Willie Collum had authority.
For Dalglish, that was a frustration and he has also called for more explanations on how certain decisions are reached by the SFA’s officials.
Writing in his Sunday Post column [08/01 print edition, Post Match supplement page 20], he said: “What also needs to be worked on is VAR. I wasn’t overly impressed with it during the Old Firm game. In general terms, the on-field referee must be given the final say on any decisions. He should be allowed to go to the monitor and look at any incidents.
“I’d also like to know how decisions are reached, and why John Beaton wasn’t asked to view the monitor for any decisions last Monday.
“There is no harm in giving football clubs and football supporters clearer lines of communication and information. I think everybody is entitled to get that. Transparency is important at all levels.”
There’s been inconsistency in decisions across the board since VAR was introduced. A system that was supposed to bring trust and authenticity to refereeing has seemed to make things worse.
The interpretation of the handball rule has been particularly puzzling with Celtic conceding the kind of penalties that other teams are going unpunished on. We saw that again earlier on Sunday at Tannadice when Connor Goldson handled the ball, with nothing given to Dundee United, leaving viewers and pundits perplexed.
Dalglish is correct here, we need far better from the Scottish FA in terms of communication. How are they now interpreting the handball rule going forward? Has that changed from the initial weeks of VAR’s use? Why isn’t the on-pitch referee being asked to review his own decisions more often? How can we better inform paying fans of what’s happening at matches?
These are all questions without an answer right now. And no one from the organisation seems willing to clear any of it up.
In other news, “I’m very happy”; Tomoki Iwata sends Instagram message to Celtic supporters.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
