Sutton: VAR is good but get rid of deadwood
CELTIC
FROM BACK PAGE chief Ian Maxwell promised managers at Thursday’s crisis summit they would push ahead for plans for video assistant referees.
But Sutton believes the new technology would be doomed to fail with the same faces on the pitches and behind the screens.
The Celtic hero said: “VAR is a step in the right direction in the Scottish game.
“Bringing in technology will be giving the officials a new toy to play with but at the moment it would be like handing a PlayStation to a toddler.
“It’s not the video assistant ref system that is the problem – it would be the people operating it.
“Scottish football can’t trust referees, the compliance officer or the panel of ex-refs to get decisions right after taking two days to look at TV footage.
“What chance would they have when they’ve got 30 seconds?
“VAR won’t help a jot unless there’s a clear-out of the incompetent officials who would be in charge of working it.”
Sutton is a fan of VAR but he insisted Scotland can’t afford to bring the system in on the cheap.
He also believes the entire judiciary process needs to be ripped up after blunders on and off the pitch over disciplinary matters.
He said: “It will take proper investment for a start. They can’t blunder in to this thing half-hearted as it would only lead to more controversy, and we’ve seen enough of that in the Scottish game.
“There needs to be trust as well. Which is why the current crop of officials and this panel of ex-referees need to go.
“They have shown time and time again they are not up to the job.
“VAR might help but the entire structure needs to be looked at. The old boys’ network and the entire judicial system needs to be sorted out.
“Fair play to Ian Maxwell for getting all the Premiership managers together in a room to get through the crisis. I called for him to show leadership and this is a start.”
The video assistant system has been getting stick in England after teething problems when rolled out in the FA Cup.
Wednesday night’s clash between Southampton and Derby caused frustration among fans at the time taken to reach a decision.
But Sutton is convinced VAR would eventually improve the game.
He said: “There are issues but it’s important to remember they eventually got the decision right.
“Would fans rather their team suffered a wrong decision, as long as it was done quickly?
“It’s ridiculous. Everyone wants to see the big calls done correctly and VAR greatly improves the chances of that happening.
“The naysayers moan it takes away from the drama of the game. Nonsense. If anything, it adds to the sense of theatre around a match.”
The new technology would need testing and training – which will take until 2020 at the earliest.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers also called for full-time officials but it could take years before the game gets the benefit of pro refs.
But Sutton urged the SFA to look at bringing in officials from abroad in the meantime to bail out our blundering whistlers.
He said: “I am with him on full-time referees.
“Perhaps Maxwell should be looking at going down the foreign route to find people to referee in this country.
“That would end the constant suspicion supporters have.”