ANDY Walker has weighed in on the VAR drama, offering his opinion on Rangers’ disallowed goal.
Walker’s primary contention is that the incident was not a ‘clear and obvious’ error. This phrase has become a key part of the lexicon since VAR’s introduction. For VAR to intervene and recommend a review, the mistake made by the on-pitch referee should be manifestly evident.
However, in the case of a goal being scored, VAR will go ahead and check the build u play, regardless of what’s just happened. This is because goals are a match-changing situation. During a goal, VAR will check for the following: the attacking team commits an offence, the ball is out of play, the ball crosses the goal line, offside, handball, offences and encroachment during penalty kicks. This is why Dessers’ challenge on Lagerbielke was flagged.
Walker believes that the referee’s original decision (not to award a foul) should have been respected.
Walker explained his opinion on the Go Radio Football Show, saying: “I didn’t think there was any need for VAR to get involved. It was a coming together, a tangle of legs. I think you have just got someone else’s opinion.”
He continued, “The referee was in a good position to see what took place. He didn’t give a foul. Had he given a foul, no problem because you wouldn’t have had the forward play when Rangers get a goal and the stadium erupts. I thought it was a poor use of VAR because it’s very subjective and I don’t understand why VAR wanted to get involved because it’s not right, it’s not wrong, it’s just another opinion.”
The former Sky Sports Scotland man concluded “You should always leave the big decisions to the referee on the pitch and I don’t think it was a clear and obvious error for VAR to get involved.”
