Rugby Park boss Clarke VAR from convinced
BY EWING GRAHAME STEVE CLARKE admits he can’t understand the rush to introduce Video Assistant Referees to the Scottish game.
The SFA could introduce the system in next season’s Scottish Cup but the Kilmarnock manager reckons they would be better bringing in decisive goalline technology first.
VAR has suffered teething problems during its FA Cup trial in England and Clarke remains to be convinced of its benefits.
He said: “It has its uses but I’m a traditionalist. When you bring in cameras for marginal decisions where do you stop?
“The experiments in England have been very inconclusive with regards to benefiting the game. They’ve had as many calls wrong as they have right.
“But you’ve got to be open-minded and if they don’t overuse it then maybe it can help.
“However, the SFA want to bring in VAR but not goalline technology which is black and white.
“There’s no ambiguity with it so that would be the first for me but they keep saying it’s too expensive.
“Football is about momentum and continuity. If the VAR official is whispering into the ref’s ear then who, ultimately, is taking charge of that game?
“There’s already enough confusion in refs’ minds without adding to it. You might as well referee the game by remote control. There’s lots to work on.”