Celtic v Rangers title race WON’T be decided by VAR says ex-Hoops boss Gordon Strachan as he gives verdict on technology
GORDON STRACHAN insists the Premiership title race WON'T be decided by VAR this season.
The former Celtic boss has watched the league campaign unfold this campaign with the new software taking centre stage in the last couple of months.
It has of course sparked controversy since it was introduced in October as officials are now perhaps being put under the microscope more than ever before.
The Hoops raised fresh concerns to the SFA earlier this month over the Connor Goldson flashpoint in the new year Old Firm derby amid concerns that similar decisions in the lead up to the end of the season could derail their title push.
But Strachan insists VAR won't affect the outcome of the league campaign as he insists the best team in the country will be crowned champions at the end of the season either way.
He said: “What will happen at the end of the year is the best team wins the league – that's it.”
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Several managers have come out in outrage towards decisions made against their team with Ange Postecoglou pleading refs not to "ruin the game" and Michael Beale taking aim over the lack of use of VAR during Celtic's Viaplay Cup semi-final win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.
Strachan on the other hand insists he is a fan of the new technology, but admits it needs to be used correctly.
The ex-Celtic and Scotland boss wishes VAR was implemented when he was a manager as it keeps gaffers and players in the know how on the pitch and informs them of what decisions are being made by refs.
But he reckons Scottish officials need to learn from referees down south in terms of when they should turn to the monitor screens for advice.
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It was introduced to correct 'obvious errors' by referees, but Strachan insists our top whistlers are using it like it's their new toy at Christmas.
And he hopes they will all get bored of it soon enough.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport on behalf of BoyleSports, he said: “It’s funny, a lot of pundits moan and complain about it but VAR is fine. There’s never going to be an outcome that keeps everyone happy. We’ve all been in the punditry and we stand there and go ‘what do you think? I think it’s a penalty’. You’ve got everyone arguing with each other.
"Don’t be that smart to say every decision needs to be right because Utopia is different from everywhere else. How can the ref be right for everybody?
“VAR Is good, I think as a manager it would be great. As a manager, If a bad decision was made against me then I’d be at the referee the whole game. I would as a player as well. But if I see it right in front of me then I’ll be like ‘calm down Gordon, you’re wrong’. It takes a lot of that out of the game, but VAR is never going to change.
“I do think when it first came in – obvious errors – Scotland in particular just now, it’s not obvious errors. I think it’s getting better in England but I think with Scottish referees, it’s like a kid with a new toy at Christmas – they just can’t stop playing with it.
"But it will be put to the side when they get bored of it and there will be ways of making it better.
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