Andy Walker rages at ‘bizarre’ new SFA development after Rangers controversy
Andy Walker has been left in a rage by “bizarre” comments from referees towards the SFA surrounding the recent controversy in the Old Firm clash between Rangers and Celtic.
Officials in Scotland met with the governing body at Hampden to discuss a number of issues, including the controversial penalty decision that saw Rangers denied a spot-kick in December’s Old Firm derby.
In these discussions, officials reportedly offered to allow VAR audio to be broadcast if they received a pay rise [BBC Sport, 15 January], a notion that has left Sky Sports pundit Walker furious as he believes it would be like “rewarding failure”.
Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show (18 January, 18:42) he said: “Honestly I think the referees have got a cheek to ask for a wee bit more money. ‘We’ll release the audio but give us more money’.
“If the referees want to get more money, by all means, go and negotiate with the SFA, get as much money as you can, fill your boots. But don’t belittle it by saying okay we’ll give you the audio if you give us more money.
“I didn’t understand their take there. You’re rewarding failure, there are so many decisions that have been wrong and I just found it a bizarre take from referees whoever their spokesperson is.”
Ridiculous
It would be a huge boost to the Scottish game if VAR audio was broadcast for supporters both inside and outside of the ground to hear as it would help hold officials to account and ensure that fans and players alike understood the thinking behind big decisions.
However, as Walker suggests, it would be ridiculous to pay officials more just to allow this to happen as it would literally be a case of rewarding failure. Referees keep making wrong decisions and the solution isn’t to just pay them more.
While the extra funding would help referees become full-time and may well increase their skillset, their performances so far this season in Scotland haven’t been worthy of such a boost.
Hopefully, a solution can be reached sooner rather than later to improve the standard of officiating north of the border as currently, it is nowhere near the level required in the Premiership, often to Rangers’ detriment.
In other Rangers news, the Gers have been accused of “stubbornness” over the sale of Ridvan Yilmaz
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