- Rangers propose VAR investment amid growing concerns over officiating standards.
- Limited camera setup fuels perception Scotland has taken a cut-price approach.
- Retrospective ban for Motherwell’s Callum Slattery only further scrutinises ongoing issues.
VAR has been a controversial topic within football since before its introduction to the laws of the game in 2018.
It became a part of the Scottish Premiership in 2022 amid scepticism but has since been accepted as part of the modern game by supporters.
However, it is not perfect. Many supporters claim it is below standard and every club has been hit by a poor decision from the monitor.
Rangers make offer to improve VAR
Rangers board have made an offer to invest in improved VAR technology if they can receive assurances from the governing bodies.
Scottish football are perceived to have taken the cheap route with VAR.
England’s Premier League has 30 VAR cameras while the regulations in Scotland only require six.
Rangers also want to discuss making referees full time, to ensure full focus on their roles within the sport.
Recent issues highlight shortcomings
The Jamaican was sent off after an off-the-ball incident with Motherwell player Callum Slattery.
The Steelmen midfielder took a dive which seen official Calum Scott send off his opponent.
King’s ban was later rescinded upon appeal, but after the Buddies had lost 5-0.
Slattery was later handed a four-match ban for his conduct but if VAR had worked correctly, that decision would have been made in match.
While VAR’s usage is accepted, its execution remains persistently under scrutiny.
Incidents like the wrongful dismissal of King only reinforce the perception that the system, as currently implemented, lacks the precision and consistency required at the top level.
Read Rangers analysis
Rangers willingness to invest in improved technology, coupled with calls for structural changes, underlines a broader concern: that the credibility of officiating is being undermined by avoidable shortcomings.
When compared to leagues like the Premier League, where significantly greater resources are allocated to VAR infrastructure, the disparity becomes difficult to ignore.
While Willie Collum’s VAR show shows accountability, it does little to actually change the errors still being made on-the-field.
Ultimately, while VAR was introduced to eliminate clear and obvious errors, its inconsistent application in Scotland risks doing the opposite.
Decisions are still fuelling controversy rather than resolving it.
Without meaningful upgrades in both technology and officiating standards, the debate surrounding its effectiveness is unlikely to subside anytime soon.
