We’re VAR from top ref standards

charge of the VAR. The standard of officials is so poor in Scotland, who will be the ones that can be relied on to get the big calls right when sitting in a van or studio?

“It could lead to even more problems. We all know what Scottish football is like. There would be conspiracy theories about who is making the big calls.

“But it’s all down to competence. We’ve already seen numerous questionable decisions this season and it shouldn’t even need VAR to have got those ones right.

“Look at the potential Jon McLaughlin red card for Rangers at Dundee, the penalty kick Dundee United should have had at Celtic.

“I’m sure VAR could have sorted those out but only if the people behind it knew what they were doing.

“There has to be a drastic raising of standards of officiating in Scotland first. You can’t just give them the cop-out of being able to go to the video – they’d be doing it every five minutes.

“Look at the current system in Scotland with the compliance department. They have people who can spend a week looking at incidents – and they still get it wrong.

“How would they be able to handle it when you’ve got seconds to get it right. VAR won’t matter a jot unless competent people are in charge of it.”

But Sutton is in favour of technology in football.

Steve Clarke’s Scotland side benefited from two huge decisions after whistlers consulted the video assistant. Lyndon Dykes was made to sweat over his leveller against Israel and again with his winner in the Faroe Islands.

Sutton said: “Those two decisions were right in the end – and it showed how VAR can be done if it’s used properly. I’m in favour of bringing it in eventually.

“I don’t know if full-time referees are required, more training or even bringing in foreign refs. But there simply has to be a rise in standards of

officiating first.”