Andy Walker: VAR is not helping referees after more controversy in Scottish Premiership | Football News

Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker believes VAR is not helping referees after the weekend’s controversy in the Scottish Premiership.

At Sky Sports Pundits have highlighted some “surprising” decisions that leave the question of using technology on the Scottish plane.

He believes referee Steven McLean got all three penalty awards wrong in Celtic’s win over Hibernian, although one was overturned, as well as Hibs striker Elie Youan’s two yellow cards which saw him sent off early in the match.

Dundee United and Motherwell were angered by the decision in the match, while Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes remained fuming after failing to award a spot-kick for an apparent handball by Andy Considine in the draw against St Johnstone.

Walker evaluates some important things over the weekend…

Celtic 3-1 Hibernian

Lee Johnson’s team faced an uphill task when Elie Youan was shown a red card after just 24 minutes for a second bookable offence, but took the lead from the penalty spot when Carl Starfelt pulled down Paul Hanlon’s shirt.

Celtic were awarded a penalty for Hanlon’s foul on Cameron Carter-Vickers, one for David Marshall’s challenge on Liel Abada was disallowed.

Walker said: “I don’t think Steven McLean had a good game at all,”

“I thought the penalty Celtic gave was too soft, no mistake from Paul Hanlon on Cameron Carter-Vickers.

“No judgment for me and I just think we set the bar too low for the type of stuff you see.

“The referees are crying out for VAR to come into Scottish football but I don’t see it helping them, they’re not using it very well.

“I have to accept that this is a contact sport and we don’t want every jersey pull to be given as a penalty.

“We then got the bar for some offenses which is incredibly low. I see the officiating down south regularly and I think the law of the game is applied differently.

“The yellow card for Elie Youan I thought was outrageous. He didn’t deserve a yellow for his first challenge and he certainly didn’t deserve a second yellow which meant he should have been sent off.

Regarding Marshall’s foul on Abada which was awarded as a spot-kick and then overturned, he added: “It was just a bad call from the referee in the first place. the penalty was a good use of VAR to cancel it out.”

Motherwell 2-4 Rangers

There was debate over Rangers’ third goal with Fashion Sakala possibly offside in the build-up, but the former Motherwell striker had something to say about Callum Slattery’s second booking in the second half.

“It’s no wonder he’s frustrated because he’s now missing a game and I think it’s a ridiculous decision,” he said.

“To put myself in the enemy’s path, I have no aggressive arm.

“There is no complaint about the first yellow, but surely the referee should know that if it is a second yellow, this game will be stopped.

“You have to be really sure. The cards come out too fast and it’s a bad decision.”

Dundee United 1-1 St Mirren

It looked like bottom side Dundee United were set for a crucial win after Steven Fletcher’s early goal, but they were left fuming after St Mirren were awarded a late penalty for an alleged foul on Curtis Main.

“Very baffly,” Walker said.

“To give a penalty at first is confusing and then for VAR to check and say ‘yes you’ve made the right decision’ is frustrating.

“It’s never a penalty in a million years, but if you get it, you have to take advantage of it and Mark O’Hara put it away really expertly.”

Kilmarnock 1-1 St Johnstone

Kilmarnock slipped out of the relegation play-off places with a draw against St Johnstone, but manager Derek McInnes was furious after being denied a penalty despite Andy Considine appearing to handle the ball in the box.

“This decision is outrageous, it’s really confusing.”

“If you see the ball go in and you see how high Andy Considine’s hands are, not only above his head, but also tenacious.

“It’s like a basketball motion hitting the ball.

“For the referee not to see, I think it’s bad enough, but for VAR to see and not ask him to cross and give a penalty is outrageous.”

Scottish Premiership fixtures live on Sky

Sunday 2 April: Ross County vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm

Saturday 8 April: Celtic vs Rangers, kick-off 12.30pm

Sunday April 9: Dundee United vs Hibernian, kick-off 12pm

Friday April 14: Ross County vs Aberdeen, kick-off 7.45pm

Sunday 16 April: Kilmarnock vs Celtic, kick-off 12pm