VAR has come under increased scrutiny with Celtic and Rangers involved in wrong calls.
Crawford Allan, Scotland’s head of referees, addressed another VAR controversy and stated that Willie Collum will be considered to officiate Celtic vs. Rangers games.
Since the most recent round of Premiership fixtures, the number of wrong calls made by the refereeing technician has increased from three to thirteen. In five of those, Celtic and Rangers were involved. In one of those, Collum used VAR to rule out a potential penalty kick during the Old Firm match in December, even though slow motion replays revealed Alistair Johnston had touched the ball inside Celtic’s box.
After Collum’s intervention, graphics proved the award would not have stood in any case as Abdallah Sima had strayed offside. But the Ibrox club were still furious and requested he be kept away from officiating Rangers matches in future.
Crawford did not discount the possibility of throwing Collum into a Celtics versus. Rangers game in the future. Additionally, he emphasised that no club will be able to control where a referee works.
“Willie will be in the frame for consideration for games, whether they be in the league, the cup, or anything else,” he declared. When the time gets closer, we’ll decide on that.
“A club will never have any say in who gets appointed as a referee in Scotland. It is my firm belief that the Scottish FA will select referees based on their qualifications, professionalism, and experience.
Referees will be chosen based on their qualifications and suitability. Any request from a club requesting that a referee not be considered for their club positions is categorically rejected.
“We don’t want one referee to garner a lot of attention. The influence is felt by all of the referees, regardless of the identity of the individual involved. We need to keep them all safe.
“A club in Tier 5 recently made a similar request, claiming that the referee failed to oversee their games. I believe they might have been following a trend.
The incorrect VAR decisions involving Celtic and Rangers
1. Following the penalty handed to Rangers’ Ross McCausland, VAR ought to have suggested an on-field review. The call should have been to not apply a penalty (Livingston v. Rangers, Nov. 12).
2. Following Rangers’ Abdallah Sima’s foul, VAR ought not to have suggested an on-field review for a penalty. The no-penalty ruling made on the pitch ought to have stood. (Dundee vs Rangers, December 9).
3. Jose Cifuentes of the Rangers was given a yellow card; VAR ought not to have suggested an on-field review following this. The yellow card call made on the pitch ought to have stood. (Dundee vs Rangers, December 9).
4. Alastair Johnston of Celtic committed a handball offence, and VAR ought to have suggested an on-field penalty review for that play. The panel should have continued to decide against imposing a penalty since it saw an irregularity in the build-up. Celtic vs. Rangers, December 30.
5. John Souttar of the Rangers committed a handball infraction, and VAR was wrong to suggest an on-field review for a penalty. choice made on the pitch to not award a penalty should have stood. (Rangers v Kilmarnock, 2 Jan)
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