FORMER CELTIC STRIKER Andy Walker has claimed that he has heard VAR tell referees to “take the easy way out“ on more than one occasion while on Sky Sports commentary duty.

VAR has been a shambles since its early introduction in October, with the majority of teams in the country voicing their disapproval of the technology.

Walker has added fuel to the fire, claiming that referees are instructed by VAR to “take the easy way out” instead of making the correct call.

While on commentary, Walker can listen to what’s being said in the VAR room as he relays information to the viewers on Sky Sports.

Walker voiced his concerns but failed to reveal what teams were affected by the calls, saying: [The Daily Record]

“Working with Sky I have the option of listening to VAR. To be absolutely clear I hear the video assistant referee – not the referee on the pitch.

“I have a concern. I won’t mention any names and I won’t name the teams involved but there was an instance where a couple of things happened in the space of a second or two. And I heard the VAR say ‘the easiest way out of this, is if it’s offside’.

“That to me is really poor language. There should be no idea that we get an easy way out. You have to look at what’s happening on the pitch and apply the laws of the game – don’t look for the easy way out.

“That’s not good enough. It’s awful. I couldn’t believe what I was listening to. I’m not going to mention any names and I’m not going to mention the game. But that kind of language makes me feel that the people operating VAR are obviously not feeling the atmosphere because they are not at the ground.

“Referees now have this safety net ‘it doesn’t matter what I say or do’ someone else will tell me if I’ve got it right or I’ve got it wrong and that example I have given? That can’t be right.”

If what Walker is saying is true, the SFA and SPFL must act and ensure that officials are making the big decisions and calling them correctly instead of wriggling their way out of them.