Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell has predicted the initial few months of VAR’s use in Scottish football could be ‘horrendous’ but has re-affirmed his belief it will end up providing long-term benefits to the Premiership.
Today, it was confirmed that the technology will be used in the Scottish top flight ahead of schedule, with Celtic set to first experience its implementation by the SFA against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Rather concerningly, Maxwell has suggested there will be serious issues, telling The Daily Record: “They’re going through the testing process. They’d done pretty much all the stadiums and they’re testing the connectivity and the software, not necessarily the match officials. It’s about whether the guys in the VAR centre can speak to the referee and everything works. That seems to have been going ok.
“We’ll see. We need to do it right. Due to the profile and because of the interest it’s going to get we need to be as ready as everyone can be. Now everyone I speak to at UEFA tells me that the first three months are going to be horrendous.
“Patience is probably a good word to use. There’s an understanding piece as well, just making sure that fans, managers, players, pundits, broadcast, media know when it’s used and why it’s used.
“You sit and watch a game and it’s a throw-in and people say VAR will tell that’s the wrong way but it doesn’t get involved in those things. We’ve spoken to managers and will continue to do that to educate everyone as much as we can. The biggest thing in that will be using it and getting used to it and the way it works. We need it, we want it, the clubs want it and it will solve a lot of the problems. You will always have the one or two contentious decisions – but this should it fix that.”
Maxwell setting such low expectations strikes me as a little bizarre when it’s his organisation that is supposed to ensure a smooth rollout. If he’s saying we’re in for a horrendous time, it doesn’t exactly bode well.
Nonetheless, this is the way football is going in leagues across the world, so it always seemed inevitable that we’d see it introduced to Scotland once the financials were worked out.
Celtic voted in favour of the new technology, so there’s clearly a feeling this will be an overall benefit in time. Nonetheless, I can’t say I am looking forward to these teething problems with so much on the line over the next few weeks.
Drama will ensue, that’s almost guaranteed.
In other news, Video: Former Celtic kid scores brilliant solo UEFA Youth League winner vs Rangers.
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