Ex-Fifa official salutes SFA after update on groundbreaking Celtic and Rangers change
Keith Hackett has praised the Scottish FA after it was revealed Celtic and Rangers games at the beginning of the 2022-23 season will have VAR operating in the background.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee called on the SFA to employ an independent panel of VAR operators to control the technology.
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell told BBC Sport on Saturday (25 June) that VAR will shadow Scottish Premiership games before it is formally introduced when the league restarts after the World Cup in December.
He revealed the process will be the same at the beginning of the season except referees will not be told to go to the pitchside monitor to review a decision.
“I just think there is a good close working relationship and good process with the Scottish FA and how they are operating this,” Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“They understand and have seen what’s happened with England and don’t want to copy that. They’ve seen how it’s operating reasonably well in other parts of the world.
“They’ve had Howard Webb across to talk to them.
“I think this is the right approach, let’s see it operate and get the individuals used to it.
“My only advice would be is to please consider an independent panel of VAR operators. Don’t expect current referees to do the VAR role. You haven’t got enough staff of quality.”
The Scottish Premiership goes on a break from 12 November before resuming on 17 December.
The current plan is for VAR to be in full operation after the break for the World Cup.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed Rangers and Celtic must negotiate together as details of a £2million-a-year deal emerge.