Souness has bad news for refs and good news for Gio
Scotland legend Graeme Souness hopes for an improved VAR experience at the World Cup – yet argues passionately for former players to become involved in the process.
New semi-automated offside technology is to be used in Qatar, with the aim of speeding up the time spent delivering decisions.
However while it is a change that Souness – who played in three World Cups for Scotland – welcomes, he fears it will not tackle the key issue of officials getting too many calls wrong.
“Hopefully semiautomated VAR will help them at the World Cup,” he said.
“They need help from ex-pros because referees are being embarrassed.
“VAR was brought in to help them make fewer mistakes – and it has done the exact opposite.
“I will say it. Some of them are just not very good. Some of their calls are terrible.
“It is the same down in England. VAR is embarrassing a lot of referees.”
The 69-year-old has no doubt what other measure might help.
“They need help getting more decisions right,” he said.
“Every footballer, who has ever played the game at a high standard, can look at an aerial challenge and tell you who was being the aggressor, and how the players came together.
“Referees that.
cannot do
“A referee can tell you every single rule in the book, from the first page to the last page, but there are too many grey areas they do not understand.”
Meanwhile, Souness has called for supporters of his old club, Rangers, to get behind Giovanni van Bronckhorst, insisting the title is not yet lost.
“Of course there is a way back. It is not a long way back, it is beating Celtic next time out,” he said, lending his backing to the Light Blues beleaguered boss.
“Be patient. There are three Old Firm games. Win those, and it would be a different picture.
“I’m never comfortable talking about a manager losing their job. I know how tough it is to be a manager.
“I know how difficult it is to manage in Glasgow, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst would have known that coming into it.
“All the spotlight comes on you because you are second, and that is when you have to be big.
“You have to stand up, be counted and play your way out of it.
“It is not always about managers. The players have to stand up and be counted at a difficult time.
“This is a time you want your leaders in the dressing-room, and for supporters to stick with their team.
“Remember, it is only a few months ago Rangers got to a European Final.”
ALEX McLEISH SAYS BREAK CAN HELP GIO – See Page 6