Ex-Fifa official: Rangers and Celtic may be used in secret experiment as trial gets underway
Keith Hackett has suggested Celtic and Rangers’ games at the beginning of the 2022-23 season should have VAR working in secret.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee claimed VAR should be tested from the beginning of the campaign behind the scenes to ensure it’s working correctly when it is to be introduced publicly.
VAR will be formally introduced into the Scottish Premiership in December when the league returns following the World Cup.
Edinburgh Evening News reported on Saturday (4 June) that three amateur sides were set to play in a friendly tournament that would help train top officials in using VAR.
“This is a good first step,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“In reality, they need to a three month offline testing process. What they need to do is be very transparent and say the games are going to operate with VAR behind the scenes so fans know it is there and operating.
“Then I think what they have to do is examine every game, how it’s operated, how the individuals have operated it.
“They should bring Greg Barkey across [from MLS] as a consultant or advisor and stick him in a hotel for a couple of months and say ‘We want your advice’.
“For me, I think it’s about how they introduce it and not when. Ensure that it’s working at maximum efficiency so from day one when it’s introduced publicly it works.
“I wouldn’t have it operating openly. I would say ‘It’s there, let’s see what the outcome is’.
“The clubs should have a monthly review or report that details the number of decisions, the number that they got right.”
In other news, Rangers have been tipped to sign the next Joe Hart after an update.