Idon’twant refstobeVAR toolenient

IT has been an interesting few days in the world of Scottish football.

First of all, news surfaced that the meeting that had been organised to discuss bringing VAR into our game had been well received by the clubs.

While talking to fans, I’ve found they have mixed views about the use of VAR and to be honest, I am uncertain myself.

What I want is for the referees – and linesman – to take strong decisions. If a tackle is too rough, punish the player, either by booking or ordering-off.

If VAR is used, by the time the ref in charge – who has perhaps made his call – is then told from above to run across and have a look at the screen for himself, the heat has gone out the moment and the reaction is more lenient.

My own belief is that referees are reluctant to use the ultimate sanction – that of ordering-off – so always tend to go for the lesser punishment.

But if someone deliberately pulls an opponent back by the jersey or impedes him in any other way, that is a foul and must be punished.

Perhaps we should take a lesson from the oval ball game and bring in the use of sin bins.

On the international front, we had a really exciting match against Israel on Saturday. It was end-to-end stuff and the scoreline was much the same.

1-0 Israel in four mins; 1-1 in 30; 2-1 Israel in 32; 2-2 in 57 minutes – and just when we all thought the match was heading for a draw, up pops one of our centre-halves to score the winner.

A bit of a fluke but a goal is a goal, no matter how you get it and the 3-2 win set us up nicely for the clash with the Faroe Islands on Tuesday.

We’ve had some bad moments in that part of the world and this one also turned out to be a another frustrating night for Scotland fans.

However, we did get the goal that mattered, leaving us two games away – Moldova and Austria – from a runners-up spot in the group and a further chance to reach Qatar 2020.

There are some equally crucial matches coming up in the Premiership this weekend. League leaders

Rangers host Hearts and if the men from Gorgie Road have any real ambitions of the title, then they must pick up at least one point.

Motherwell play host to Celtic at Fir Park, with the Steelman also one point ahead of the Hoops. It could be interesting.

If VAR is used, by the time the ref is then told to look at the screen, the heat has gone out of the moment and the call is lenient