Former referee Des Roache has branded the plans for the use of VAR in the Scottish Cup "unfair" with only Scottish Premiership sides set to use the technology.
The technology has been in use in the top flight of Scottish football and has been a heated talking point among supporters since it's introduction, and that looks set to continue during the Scottish Cup with the Daily Express reporting that only televised fixtures will use VAR in the competition. Other clubs will have to payout to use the technology, meaning a host of fourth round fixtures will go without the video assistant.
The Edinburgh derby is the pick of the fixtures coming up next month as Hearts will travel across the capital to Easter Road to face off against Hibs, which is expected to be picked up by either Viaplay or BBC Scotland. Holders Rangers clash with St Johnstone as well as Celtic 's showdown with Scottish Championship side Morton are also likely to be top of the list for rights holders.
West of Scotland League minnows Darvel host Aberdeen at Recreation Park which could also catch the eye of television companies. That would leave Dundee United and Kilmarnock having to payout for the use of VAR during their games with University of Stirling and Dumbarton.
Motherwell, Livingston and Ross County are all away from home in the fourth round to lower league outfits, which could see the technology dropped from their matchday. Conroy insists the technology should be applied equally across competition.
Speaking on the Get Involved Referee podcast he said: “It’s the application of the universal laws of the game. They should be applied in Darvel in the same way that they are applied at Celtic Park, for example, but it seems that’s not happening.
“So the exact same incident could be called one way in Darvel and another way at Celtic Park because you have recall at Celtic Park. It’s not fair, it’s not equitable and it leaves a really nasty taste in the mouth. If Darvel can’t use it then Celtic shouldn’t use it. You have to referee games at all games in the same way.”
Fellow former referee Des Roache added: “It’s ridiculous. It’s Scotland’s premier cup competition but there are going to be different parameters and different applications of the law. The Premiership teams can have it but the lower league teams can’t so that means a different set of circumstances in the same competition. That’s unfair.”
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