John Hartson in scathing VAR rant as Celtic legend wants tech SCRAPPED and replaced by 'common sense'

Hartson is fed up with the technology and feels it may be time for the SPFL to cut it loose.

Frustrated John Hartson suggested Scottish football should become the first country to ditch VAR and go back to 'common sense' refereeing.

The technology has caused plenty of controversy since it debuted in the Premiership back in October and rarely a week goes by without some controversy to discuss. Every team in the league has had their grievances with it at some point, with VAR's role in complicating the handball rule a particular source of frustration.

The long delays and inconsistent decisions have left many feeling the Scottish game is better off without it but the technology is in place in most top leagues across Europe and it seems it's here to stay. But Celtic legend Hartson believes we'd be as well getting rid and asked if it's "causing more problems than it's worth."

He said on Go Radio: "Would it be too controversial if I said get rid of it? Even if you go back to VAR, there are so many calls where you think 'how have they come up with that?'

"So listen, I know it's there to help the referees, but at this moment in time, they're getting more wrong than they're getting right. It's a controversial call, it doesn't matter what I say because they're never going to listen to me, but what I'm thinking is 'is it causing more problems than it's worth?'

"Why don't we just let the referee make the decision as they see it? Because as we've seen, even if it's going to VAR...how on earth can they not come up with the correct decisions?

"These handballs, if a handball is blatant then give it. If it's just smashed at somebody's arm, then don't give it. A lot of it is common sense, but it just doesn't seem to be working right now."

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