SWITCHING ON TO VAR FOR PREMIERSHIP WOULD BE A REAL WINNER

IT’S pleasing to see that there is to be a summit to discuss the possibilities of introducing VAR to the Scottish Premiership.

A couple of years ago, I called publicly for the SFA and SPFL to find a way to implement the technology.

We can’t have a situation where Scotland is left behind every top league in Europe. And the fact the women’s league in England is now pushing for it strengthens our obligation to find a way.

Referees need to be assisted in making crucial decisions. I know the financial implications. But it doesn’t need to be an elite version of VAR.

There has to be some sort of format where referees can review decisions. It doesn’t need to be people sitting in a truck, maybe it could be the fourth official looking at a screen.

In dugouts, coaches are able to watch in-game incidents on their iPads. They might not get the best angle but it could still be a better angle than the referee has out on the pitch.

Why should coaches have that luxury and not the officials?

Having a monitor at the side of the pitch that allows a referee to review the big calls — offside decisions, penalties and violent conduct — seems sensible to me.

Over the summer, I wrote about the high quality of the refereeing at the Euros. But that was aided by a really good use of VAR. It was nearly perfect and showed how technology can work in tandem with the top match officials.

If we want the best quality of referees in this country, then they need to be operating in European competition.

Our officials want to be the best they can. If they are not working with VAR every week, they will be denied the chance to officiate at the best matches in the top tournaments.

Do we really want to send a message that all these other leagues should have the resource of VAR before us?