Ex-Fifa official: It is ‘incumbent’ on Celtic and Rangers chiefs to find new sponsors after £1.2m SPFL news
It is “incumbent” on executives at clubs Celtic and Rangers to try and find a sponsor for VAR to combat the costs of introducing it into Scottish football.
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider as plans to introduce the technology into the Scottish Premiership stall.
The Daily Mail reported on Monday (21 February) that clubs are “wavering” as it is now set to cost them £100,000-per-season after original estimates put that figure at £80,000.
With 12 teams competing in the division, it means VAR would cost £1.2million to run per season.
It is claimed a delayed vote will now take place in the Spring and Celtic and Rangers are strongly in favour of its introduction.
“I’m very clear that Scotland, in order to be up with the modern game and competition, should have VAR,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I don’t think there is any reason why they shouldn’t have VAR.
“Ok, they are looking at the cost. When you look at the cost it is £80,000-£100,000 per team. When you look at that in relation to player transfers and wages, that might be Ok in the Premier League but in Scotland, it might be a problem.
“What is incumbent on the owners is, can we get a sponsor of VAR for the club or the whole competition?
“They need to balance the cost and explore the opportunity of reducing that cost from sponsorship.
“They can use it on the big screens in grounds that’s where the opportunity comes. Maybe where the VAR monitor is, there might be an opportunity there.”
In other news, Gabby Agbonlahor has demanded SFA intervention after ‘very strange’ Celtic and Rangers news.