Livingston boss frustrated with VAR despite apology from referees’ chief

Livingston’s home Scottish Gas Scottish Cup tie against St Mirren will go ahead without VAR as David Martindale revealed his frustration following another apology from referees’ chief Willie Collum.

The Livi boss was irate after missing out on a possible penalty in Saturday’s William Hill Premiership home match against fellow strugglers Kilmarnock when Scott Pittman’s stoppage-time header appeared to strike the arm of Rugby Park skipper Brad Lyons inside the box.

Referee Don Robertson was not asked by VAR Calum Scott to look at his pitchside monitor and the 1-1 draw kept bottom side Livi four points behind Kilmarnock having played a game more.

Martindale remains adamant the West Lothian side were also denied a “stonewall” penalty in their 2-1 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox at the end of November.

Former referee Collum is head of referee operations at the Scottish Football Association and his apologetic phone call to Martindale on Monday was appreciated but the Livingston boss will take the opportunity to play the fourth-round cup tie on Saturday without VAR.

He said: “I said no, one million per cent. I’ll be honest, it cost thousands of pounds for that so one, it’s a financial decision.

“But I’m going to tell you right now, if they say to me, there is £5,000, you can get VAR in the stadium on Saturday I would probably say just keep it.

“I don’t like VAR. I don’t like it. I think it’s ruining the game.

“The conversation with Willie was really similar to the one after Ibrox if I am honest.

“‘I am very sorry, missed it, I don’t know why we missed it, we shouldn’t have missed it, really sorry’.

“But I don’t think it’s a Willie Collum problem. I don’t think it’s just an officials’ problem. I think it’s a Scottish football problem.

“I think we need to get our heads together and find solutions very quickly.

“My biggest gripe at the Ibrox game (handball incident) was the referee not getting the opportunity to look at the monitor.

“So, OK, understand. Take the apology and move on and then Saturday again, the VAR officials felt it wasn’t necessary for the referee to look at the monitor.

“I came in here after the game and had a few folk are saying to me, ‘I can’t believe your players are not surrounding the referee and going crazy’.

“One. It’s what we try not to do, but now I think we’re at the stage where you’re actually encouraging that behaviour again.

“I was at the side of the touchline, very animated to the fourth official and I’m getting told to sit down or you’re going to get sent off.

“That was a monumental opportunity in our season. If we score that penalty it is three points.

“I appreciate Willie phoning, I really do. But it’s not really worth anything really at the end of the day.

“I’ve gone through it again and it’s really hard to get your head around. I think we’ve got to do better.”