{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Ex-Fifa referee suggests how SFA can fix VAR after Rangers and Celtic controversies
Keith Hackett has suggested the Scottish FA should bring in Fifa referee chief Pierluigi Collina to help fix VAR after another weekend of controversy involving Rangers, Celtic and other Scottish Premiership sides.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee suggested there was “rarely a complaint” with the technology at the World Cup – making it a good benchmark for use in domestic leagues.
As per the BBC (21 March), the Scottish FA are considering multiple options to improve the implementation of VAR following a controversial weekend of fixtures in the Scottish Premiership.
One potential solution mentioned is bringing in specialist video referees who would not take charge of games.
Celtic’s clash with Hibernian (18 March) saw three penalties awarded and a number of VAR controversies, while fans were left wondering if Rangers’ third goal against Motherwell was truly onside.
Video review technology in the Scottish Premiership was only introduced in late October, but Gers legend Ally McCoist (as per Clyde 1, 20 March) has already called for it to be scrapped.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “There were always going to be teething problems with VAR in Scotland.
“The training and communication has to be spot on. They’ve got to review what they’re doing up in Scotland to make sure they don’t make the same mistakes as England.
“They’re looking at an independent panel of operators, which is a good start. That’s where England need to go, too.
“But I think I’d bring Pierluigi Collina in from Fifa, he’s the top referee in the organisation.
“They’ve got to bring him in and let him talk to the referees and the operators. He can bring the colleagues he thinks can help him.
“Because in Fifa competitions, we see the VAR run really well. There was rarely a complaint with the technology at the World Cup.
“If they approach him, and bring him in – that would be the right move. They don’t want to go to England for help, because it’s a mess down here too.”
In other news, Football Insider updates on Ange Postecoglou quitting Celtic for Tottenham.