Scottish FA chief Ian Maxwell mentioned authorities should search to alleviate “the unsustainable strain on match officers and VAR operators” because it was introduced Crawford Allan will step down as head of referee operations on the finish of the season.
Allan, a former class one official, took up the put up in January 2020 and performed a key position as video know-how was launched into Scottish soccer in 2022.
VAR controversies have change into nearly a weekly prevalence this season and a mid-season evaluate carried out by an unbiased panel highlighted 16 errors within the cinch Premiership through the first two rounds of fixtures.
The sport’s ruling physique says Allan’s departure to pursue new alternatives “will impact a evaluate of the present position and remit to mirror the calls for positioned on it by the introduction and optimisation of VAR, with a deliberate evaluate of the operational priorities of the division based mostly on the insights so far from VAR implementation.”
SFA chief govt Maxwell mentioned: “Firstly, I want to thank Crawford for his 4 years as head of referee operations and particularly his efforts in implementing VAR inside Scottish soccer and guiding refereeing via the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In some ways, overseeing the introduction of VAR has been a thankless job.
“But it has been important for Scottish soccer to stay on the forefront of on-field know-how and in-step with the main home competitions throughout Europe, in addition to guaranteeing our match officers and VAR operators can proceed to function at FIFA and UEFA stage.
“Crawford has been integral to that course of – from feasibility, to coaching, to roll-out – for a lot of his tenure and we’re grateful that he’ll stay in place and supply continuity till the top of the season.
“While there’s a recognition that, globally, the VAR processes want to enhance, this can be a problem for all key stakeholders inside Scottish soccer to work via within the context of our personal home competitors.
“This consists of all key exterior stakeholders having a greater understanding of the Legal guidelines of the Sport, the traces of intervention for VAR, and the adopted steerage inside Scottish soccer, particularly in subjective areas such because the handball regulation.
“We should work collectively to alleviate the unsustainable strain on match officers and VAR operators, to take away the handy blame tradition hooked up to subjective or unpopular choices, and to make sure extra focus is positioned on the entertainers relatively than the on-field facilitators.
“We’ll proceed conversations and enhancements with all stakeholders with this as a non-negotiable and unifying premise as we search to enhance the expertise for all.”
The recruitment course of will start instantly to make sure an skilled alternative might be in place for the brand new season.
Allan, 56, mentioned: “It has been an honour to guide referee operations in Scotland particularly throughout such an historic interval of change.
“Taking the position, after nearly 30 years as a match official together with 15 years within the prime flight, coincided not solely with two years affected by the Covid pandemic, but additionally the inception after which introduction of VAR in Scottish soccer.
“Whereas there are refinements and enhancements to be made to VAR, as there are in leagues the world over, it has taken a monumental effort from my workforce on the Scottish FA and the match officers to have it embedded within the Premiership and cup matches at Hampden Park.
“VAR is just one side of the position, albeit one that may overshadow the optimistic strides now we have taken ahead. I’m grateful to my workforce for his or her help. I might additionally wish to thank the broader workforce in referee operations for his or her professionalism, typically seven days per week, and the referee committee for his or her help and counsel.
“Above all, I want to thank the match officers in any respect ranges for his or her unwavering dedication to our nationwide sport.”