Has the recent VAR controversies at Tynecastle and elsewhere across the Scottish game, caused the first head to roll? It certainly looks that way with the announcement today that Scotland’s head of referees Crawford Allan is to leave his post at the end of the season.
Pursue new opportunities
The Scottish FA is now conducting a review of the role in light of ongoing VAR controversies, with the game’s governing body saying that Allan, who has been in the role for four years, is leaving “to pursue new opportunities”.
“VAR processes need to improve”
The chief executive at the Scottish FA Ian Maxwell reckons that “VAR processes need to improve” and few Celtic supporters (if any) would argue with that.
Maxwell has asked everyone in the game to “work together to alleviate unsustainable pressure on match officials and VAR operators” and he wants to “remove the convenient blame culture attached to subjective or unpopular decisions and to ensure more focus is placed on the entertainers rather than the on-field facilitators”.
The handball law
Speaking to the official SFA website Maxwell said: “This includes all key external stakeholders having a better understanding of the laws of the game, the lines of intervention for VAR and the adopted guidance within Scottish football, especially in subjective areas such as the handball law.”
Will Bobby Madden will get the job?
The SFA has already started its search to “ensure an experienced replacement will be in place for the new season” with many Celtic supporters reckoning that Bobby Madden will get the job. out of the fire and all that.
🚨 Crawford Allan will step down as the Scottish FA's head of refereeing at the end of the season 🔽
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 18, 2024
“This will coincide with a planned review of the operational priorities of the department based on the insights to date from VAR implementation, as well as feedback from category one match officials and VAR operators, the Scottish FA’s professional game board, the SPFL’s competitions working group and the independent review panel,” Maxwell stated.
He thanked Allan for “his efforts in implementing VAR within Scottish football and guiding refereeing through the Covid-19 pandemic”, describing the introduction of video assistant referee system as “a thankless task”.
VAR is only one aspect of the role
Allan said: “While there are refinements and improvements to be made to VAR, as there are in leagues across the world, it has taken a monumental effort from my team at the Scottish FA and the match officials to have it embedded in the Premiership and cup matches at Hampden Park.
“VAR is only one aspect of the role, albeit one that can overshadow the positive strides we have taken forward.”
NEWS | Crawford Allan will leave his position as Head of Referee Operations at the end of this season.
— Scottish FA (@ScottishFA) March 18, 2024
