Scots refs snubbed over lack of VAR

Scotland’s top refs are set to be snubbed from European and international matches because we don’t have VAR in this country.

It’s been revealed that leading Scots officials Willie Collum and Bobby Madden will be excluded from major Champions League and Europa League matches.

And they are also set to be blanked from the Euro 2020 finals next year.

Former referee Charlie Richmond reckons we’re becoming a backwater because we’re lagging so far behind the rest of Europe.

SPFL chief Neil Doncaster has already said that cost is a huge issue in terms of TV resource and an extra two officials,

But Richmond says we need to catch up with the rest of Europe.

Richmond said: “If we don’t get in line and start using the VAR system in Scotland then you won’t see our guys going abroad.

“That was evident when Bobby Madden went to do his Champions League match recently between Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade

“The VAR officials were flown in from Holland because it’s only Bobby and Willie Collum that are trained in VAR.

“It was the same when Willie covered Juventus against Bayer Leverkusen – the VAR officials came from Spain.

“So we can’t send a full team of six Scottish officials to a Champions League game.”

Managers and players are also desperate for the system to be brought in to cut out refereeing mistakes.

Richmond added: “It’s the funding aspect – how are we going to play for it?

“But our major matches are covered live by the main television stations so all you would need to do is put a couple of VAR officials in place in a van at the stadium.

“We should trial it at games like the Betfred Cup semi-finals and Final and the Scottish Cup semis and final, for example.”