Glass: VAR will benefit clubs at difficult away venues

Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass has welcomed the likely introduction of VAR into Scottish football, saying it can help teams get correct decisions “at difficult away venues.”

Glass was unhappy at two major decisions as his drew 2-2 with Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday night, saying he thought referee John Beaton got it wrong in awarding a free kick before Rangers’ first goal, and then in awarding a late penalty that allowed the hosts to equalise.

With Scottish clubs having watched a presentation on VAR earlier this month and made positive noises about introducing it for season 2023/24, it looks likely that referees will have technology to review big decisions in the future. Glass is a fan of the idea.

“I think it’s coming down the line regardless of what happened on Wednesday night. I don’t think that’s something that’s brought it to a head, or anything like that,” he said.

But the Aberdeen boss says it will be particularly helpful for some teams.

“I think it’s necessary,” he said. “I think it takes away what people would consider to be obvious decisions that people get wrong at times, so hopefully it can be a help for clubs like ourselves.

“I don’t think Wednesday [has brought anything to a head] it is just important that we get the calls, which people consider marginal, correct.

“That is important for the benefit of everybody, especially for clubs like ourselves when you are going to difficult away stadiums, difficult venues and there has been some mistakes made, in my opinion.

“It is important these are made correct.”

The Dons boss said that he thought it would be “a waste of time” to contact the Scottish FA to query the decisions he felt went against his team, but when asked if reviewing video footage afterwards had changed his mind on the penalty, he was resolute.

“No, it’s probably strengthened my opinion, and more so,” he said. “I think it’s a greater sense of disappointment for me.

“That’s not me pointing the finger at the referee, that’s me saying I think there were a couple of decisions that were incorrect.

“It happens, we move on, we focus on ourselves and it’s important that we keep the momentum going.”