St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson says VAR ‘not fit for purpose’ in Scottish game

Stephen Robinson has labelled Scottish football’s VAR system as “not fit for purpose” after recent controversy around disallowed St Mirren goals.

Scottish FA head of referee operations Willie Collum questioned a goal the Buddies had chalked off in their 2-2 draw with Hearts in October.

Midfielder Mark O’Hara was ruled offside when he blocked Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland before Miguel Freckleton netted but Collum said: “We have to be careful about disallowing goals for something so minor. We have been too forensic here, overanalysing something.”

Collum was also “disappointed with the process” that led to the Paisley side being disallowed a goal in the 3-0 home defeat to Hibernian just before the international break.

The referees’ chief conceded that the lines initially used to determine offside did not take into account the placement of the ball when it was kicked, although he was adamant the correct decision was eventually reached.

Collum said: “You use the word lucky, I see this as a very big near miss and a big lesson for us.”

Ahead of the home game against Celtic on Saturday, Robinson, with a nod to the six-figure sum that the system costs clubs annually, said: “I won’t talk about separate incidents but in terms of VAR itself, it’s been three and a half years now and I don’t see an improvement with it.

“For me, VAR isn’t fit for purpose in the form that we have it in this this country.

“When it comes to minuscule and small decisions, I don’t believe the system’s accurate enough. We’re paying for a product that isn’t delivering.

“In any other walk of life you take the product back so that’s probably all I need to say on it. I don’t believe that the system’s working.

“Scottish football fans, Scottish clubs are paying for it. It is not free.

“Ultimately, have to ask yourself is it making Scottish football better? No.

“We’re probably in a really good position to talk about it for the last three and a half years.

“But I’m talking about the whole of Scottish football, your Dundee United, Hearts, Rangers, Celtic.

“We’re all putting money into something that over time doesn’t seem to have improved.

“The actual system itself. Small margins which these decisions are being made on now is not accurate enough. That has been proven over the last couple of weeks.

“Would that (money) not be better invested into players? I can get maybe two top players with that in terms of our level.

“Fans can maybe get tickets reduced or facilities could be improved. Every club can benefit, training facilities from the money we’re putting into that.

“I don’t believe it’s helping Scottish football in any shape or form.”