St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson gives VAR verdict as he questions SFA’s three month teething process
VAR will make its debut in the Premiership next week when Hibs face St Johnstone at Easter Road.
And Saints gaffer Callum Davidson is praying SFA chief Ian Maxwell’s fears that it will be “horrendous” are wide of the mark.
SunSport revealed in July Hampden chiefs were poised to roll out the Video Assistant Referee system before this winter’s World Cup finals in Qatar.
SunSport Online revealed today they are ready to kick it off in all six top-flight fixtures on the weekend of October 21/22.
Hibs and St Johnstone will make history by using VAR when they meet on Friday, October 21 at 7.30pm.
The first televised use will be at Hearts’ home clash with champions Celtic on Saturday, October 22, at 12.30pm.
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All four 3pm kick-offs that day, Kilmarnock v Ross County, Motherwell v Aberdeen, Rangers v Livingston and St Mirren v Dundee United, will use VAR.
The SFA and SPFL will confirm details of its introduction today, although the officiating teams for the six Premiership games on October 21 and 22 have yet to be announced.
VAR, which will be based at Clydesdale House in Glasgow’s East End, will also be used for the Scottish Cup and Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and final at Hampden.
SFA chief executive Maxwell this week warned of teething troubles over the first three months of its use in Scotland.
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But Davidson said: “I am hoping it will be quicker than that. You want the right decisions straight away.
“It might take a little bit of time to come to the decision, that’s fine.
“But let’s hope the decisions are made correctly straight away when we bring it in — because that’s why VAR is there.
“We don’t want a few months of, ‘Oh, we’re not sure’, or inconsistency in the decisions. We want the decisions to be consistent from day one.
“The big decisions will be the important ones. Hopefully they will be a lot clearer.
“That’s what you’re looking for — and hopefully it won’t take as long as they think.
“It’s history for St Johnstone, we’ll be the first game to use it.”
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