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Date: 30th April 2024
It’s time for a PROPER DEBATE ON VAR.
Personally, I am firmly of the view that the introduction of VAR has been a disaster for football, not just in Scotland but across the world. Fans from every continent seem to be united in their general opposition. I recently spoke to a cousin in Argentina, who was bemoaning a contentious decision in the Superclasico (River vs. Boca) recently. He is not alone. My biggest single objection (amongst many others) to VAR is that it sucks the joy from the game by removing the single biggest reason we attend matches, namely to get to our feet to celebrate a goal. Now, we have to wait, often for minutes, for a decision – moreover, a decision about which we have been given no indication as to how it has been made.
And now, for the first time, there is a crack in the dam. In Sweden, members of most clubs adopted motions opposing VAR. In a big win for membership democracy in Swedish football (other countries take note!), the football authorities there have acquiesced to the fans’ wishes and Sweden is now the only one of the top 30 leagues in Europe to say no to the introduction of VAR.
Why this matters for Scotland
The SFSA is told, as are all fans, that we can’t go back? Why not? As the late, great football commentator Bob Crampsey sagely noted, “if you’re on the wrong bus you don’t wait till it gets to the terminus before you get off.” Yes, there is a problem in that much of the media love VAR for the controversy it creates. Referees too tell us they need it to get European games. Yet I know many refs have doubts about it too, although they can’t voice these publicly, while the argument that it gets them European matches seems to have been debunked by the fact that not one Scottish referee has been chosen to officiate at the Euros. To shoot that particular fox even more squarely between the eyes, I merely note that Glenn Nyberg of Sweden has been chosen to officiate in Germany this summer. If he can do this from a country without VAR, why can’t our officials?
The SFSA has conducted two surveys which show conclusively that the majority of fans are against VAR. We are currently conducting another survey to ask fans of lower Division clubs if VAR puts them off the idea of their club being demoted. I can tell you (spoiler alert – full results out soon) that it most certainly does.
The SFSA acknowledges there are some fans, albeit a minority, who like VAR. Their views should be respected and listened to, but, and it’s a big but, the Swedish example shows what we believe is necessary, namely that the football authorities should listen, above all else, to the fans – the single biggest stakeholder group in the country.
To that end, we propose that an independent working party be set up, including people and organisations that don’t normally work together (the, SFA, SPFL, SFSA, Supporters’ Direct, the Referees Associations, fans’ groups, etc.), under an independent chairman, to conduct a full review of the working of VAR and, equally importantly, what the fans think of it. NOTHING should be off the table, including extending the use of VAR or the removal of VAR from the Scottish game until such time that it works seamlessly and so quickly that it removes that major issue of sucking the joy out of the game.
Later this week we’re going to launch a poll with one simple question, as shown below. There are two possible answers. All you will have to do is tick the box you agree with (Note: you will have to go to the link to cast your vote when the poll is launched – you can’t do it here).
Question:
Do you agree that the Scottish Football Authorities should work with ALL stakeholders, principally the fans who are the lifeblood of the game, and under an independent, external chair, to conduct a comprehensive review of the way VAR has worked so far in Scotland, with nothing off the table, including extending VAR into new areas or scrapping VAR until it works properly in the view of the majority of stakeholders?
YES
NO – I think VAR, despite its faults, should be persevered with as it solves more problems than it causes.
We urge all supporters’ groups across the country to embrace this initiative. Please share it in your private social media groups and let’s get a message to the authorities that VAR is not working and the fans need to be listened to.
Alastair Blair, Director of Operations, SFSA
Posted in: Latest News, Refereeing