VAR still isn’t helping our game as tech highlights poor decisions and bad refs
When VAR was first introduced in Scotland, SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell warned Premiership fans to expect three horrendous months as referees got to grips with the new technology.
Well, it’s been five months and counting now and the results still don’t seem to be getting any better.
Every week we are still seeing referees make the wrong decisions. Sometimes VAR corrects them, sometimes it backs them up despite the initial decision clearly being wrong.
When Peter Haring tripped Mark O’Hara on the break last weekend, every journalist in the press box was preparing to mark the challenge down as a booking. When referee David Dickinson flashed a red, a general look of bemusement ensued.
Of course, the decision went in St Mirren’s favour and it’s tough not to celebrate when a call goes your way.
Especially when the Saints have been on the receiving end of some more than contentious calls already this season.
But ultimately, this was just the latest in an increasingly long list of examples where VAR is simply proving it’s not fit for purpose.
Whether it can be in the future of not remains to be seen, but the SFA owe it to Scottish football fans who pour their money into their clubs to get the system right for next season.
That’s the least they deserve after its hasty introduction halfway through the current season – a decision that looks more slapdash and haphazard by the day.
While Haring’s red card should ultimately have helped Stephen Robinson’s side last weekend, unfortunately for the Paisley club there was still a late sting in the tail.
For Ryan Flynn – one of the club’s most consistent performers and most reliable, experienced players – to be the guilty party was ironic.
He didn’t need to go anywhere near contacting Josh Ginnelly in the box as the winger ran out of space but, ultimately, he was drawn into the foul that led to striker Lawrence Shankland’s dramatic late spot-kick leveller.
Given Trevor Carson’s penalty-saving exploits this season, I still thought there was a very good chance St Mirren would still be celebrating all three points come full-time.
Unfortunately, for once he was unable to stop the opposing team from the spot, with the last-gasp equaliser causing Robinson and co to sink to their knees in despair.
It was a cruel way to drop two points, especially having been the better side for the majority of the match. The pressure is now truly on the Buddies to pick up points from at least one of their remaining games against Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen.
That is no mean feat, with those three more than likely to end up in the top three Premierships spots this season.
But the Saints have picked up three points against the Hoops and the Dons (twice) already this season. They were also just seven minutes away from toppling Rangers in Paisley.
There’s no doubt that Robinson’s well-drilled system can beat any team in Scotland on its day.
What remains to be seen is whether the Buddies have enough fuel left in the tank for one final push to try and replicate those excellent performances and results.
There’s no greater carrot for this squad than the prospect of European football. Some of these players might not get a better chance to qualify for Europe than in the next three games.
Hopefully that incentive will be enough to spark three more strong performances from the Saints.
Making the top six was, of course, impressive enough an achievement.
However, it would be extra sweet to finish the season with another upset or two under their belts – and European football on the horizon.