Levein insists Champions League drama is just another reason to introduce reviews in Scotland
GARY RALSTON
THE game may have clashed with Coronation Street but Craig Levein insists there was only one drama in Manchester worth the watching.
The Hearts boss was left in awe at the quality of the Champions League quarter-final between Man City and Spurs – and the role of VAR in determining the outcome.
If Raheem Sterling’s injury-time goal been allowed to stand it’s likely Pep Guardiola’s adrenaline-fuelled, victory spring from the dugout would have ended on Gorgie Road before kick-off tomorrow against Rangers.
Levein hasn’t always cut a contented figure on the sidelines this season, despite his side reaching the Scottish Cup Final, but even he was still beaming the morning after the night before.
He said: “It was brilliant – shame on anyone who didn’t watch it.”
The enthralling second-leg tie also added fuel to the fire for the g.ralston@dailyrecord.co.uk introduction of video assistant refs into the Premiership as quickly as possible, a stance Levein has championed consistently in recent months.
Indeed he revealed our whistlers are also so keen to work with the new technology they have even taken to bypassing the SFA to ask the Tynecastle gaffer for updates on its proposed introduction.
Levein said: “I hope we’re edging towards VAR in Scottish football because it adds to the drama and, ultimately, it helps arrive at the right outcome.
“The outcome on Wednesday was correct and the sooner we get it in Scottish football, the better.
“Referees want it, managers want it, players want it. The sooner the better. People say it takes too much time but in every sport now the potential difference financially between winning and losing is so enormous.
“All we want is to arrive at the right outcome so if you lose it’s because of what you did on the pitch and not because someone has interpreted a certain situation a certain way. Every manager would like that.”
City boss Guardiola lamented the cruelty of VAR after Fernando Llorente’s second-half goal stood after a review, while Sterling’s effort was ruled out because Sergio Aguero was offside when he received the ball for the assist.
The Spaniard had no complaints about Sterling’s goal being dismissed but said: “Maybe from one angle Llorente’s goal is handball, maybe from the referee’s angle it is not.”
Levein accepts, even with the introduction of VAR, some decisions will still be up for debate yet insists that’s no reason not to push for its introduction in Scotland.
He said: “Referees’ decisions will