‘The big games need VAR’

DUNDEE UNITED defender Jamie Robson says it’s time for VAR to be introduced for Scottish football’s showpiece matches at Hampden. The Tannadice club’s fate was sealed on Saturday when the match officials missed Christian Doidge being offside as he put Hibernian 2-0 in front in their Scottish Cup semi-final. That goal would have been chalked off on review had VAR been in place, as it is in England and other countries. While the costs of the system are prohibitive for the Scottish game in general, Robson argues there should be consideration of introducing it solely for major knockout ties. ‘It would be great to get VAR in, especially at the national stadium for these big games,’ said the left-back.‘I know it costs a lot of money but even if they were to bring it in for the semi-finals and finals. ‘These games are televised so surely it can’t be that hard to do. I know they have it in England and I don’t think it will be too long before it is introduced in other countries and up here. It will just be too late for us, unfortunately. ‘It would be a good thing, especially if it was in play on Saturday because it would have kept us in the game. It would have given us a fighting chance. ‘Certainly, if the goal had been given for us I would have classed it as a controversial decision.’

Robson was honest about the disappointing nature of United’s overall performance but their cause clearly wasn’t helped by Alan Mulvanny’s error. The assistant referee was well positioned, yet failed to spot Doidge was half-a-yard offside when he finished a slick, 58th-minute move for the Leith side. ‘I could see right across the line because he was offside on the right-hand side,’ added Robson. ‘There was no doubt that he was offside. I had my hand up and I was screaming for the offside decision. The offside goal really has killed us.’