We’re on slippery slope over endless video ref delays
THE world has gone daft for this bonkers Squid Game programme where hard-up contestants are thrown into a series of deadly playground activities with the chance to win some dosh.
They have to work together at times but it’s every man or woman for themselves most of the time as folk show they are capable of just about any kind of ruthless nonsense to get their hands on the money.
A bit like an SPFL meeting really – except our lot are fighting it out for the Quid Game.
The gang gathered in the playpen again this week but this time wasn’t as cut-throat as usual.
Our clubs usually fall out over the kind of biscuits served up at Hampden but apparently in this meeting the feeling was “overwhelmingly positive” when former FA referee Howard Webb gave his presentation about VAR. Jeez.
I was overwhelmingly positive when the guy came round to price up building a wee man hut in my back garden but less so when he quoted me the price – I’d need to remortgage the big house to pay for it.
Likewise, it’s incredible we’re still stuck in limbo with the video ref issue due to the cost.
It was even more laughable when, at the end of the presentation, everyone nodded and agreed it would be a good idea so they’ll put it to the vote at some point after New Year. Maybe.
Oh for goodness sake. What the heck are they waiting for?
The top-flight clubs in attendance should have stuck their hands up after the meeting on Friday.
They all know how much it’s going to cost. It’s between 60 and 80 grand a head per season and the SFA are even saying they’ll pony up for training the officials how to watch a telly and draw wee straight lines.
They could do the course in an afternoon with a decent tea-break in between sessions.
It’s actually getting embarrassing that we’ve not made the move to bringing in video technology. We’ve still got managers moaning about decisions every single week, yet they are not leaning on the suits above them to make the blooming call and bring it in.
There’s no real debate about it these days. The EPL made a mess of it at first but the Euros in the summer showed how it’s done and even our pals down south seem to have sorted out the kinks now.
Meanwhile, our lot are still waiting for the carrier pigeons to come back with the vote on whether they should hold another meeting to vote on the prospect of holding a vote.
There are bowling club committees that move faster than this crew.
Don’t forget, it’s nearly three years since the great and the good of our game held their big referees crisis summit in Perth.
SFA chief Ian Maxwell walked out that night and said: “There’s now a real appetite to investigate VAR.”
That was in January 2019. It’s up there with the Lord Lucan investigation.
The likes of Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Israel, Greece and Bulgaria all have it.
Even the league in Kosovo has VAR. Yet our lot are still stuck with using Betamax.
They are making our set-up look tinpot and it’s time to get a shift on. Forget about this 42-club vote. Stop being daft.
It’s only needed in the top flight so if the Premiership are overwhelmingly positive then get the hands up and the deal in writing right now.
That way, we can at least be up and running in the modern age for the start of next season.
No doubt we’ll get it and then some supporters will be arguing whether the folk in charge of the video have green eyes or blue noses but at least most of the time the pictures don’t lie.
SPFL clubs might not be squids in but the league cannot afford to drag on and become an international laughing stock.
Even the league in Kosovo has VAR yet our lot are still stuck with using Betamax