VAR 'going nowhere' as SFA chief Mike Mulraney spells out European consequences to Scotland and SPFL hopefuls

SFA boss Mike Mulraney insists VAR is here to stay.

Premier League chiefs in England last week successfully fought off an attempt by Wolves to have the telly technology binned following a season of controversy down south. And SFA president Mulraney is certain any moves to scrap the video assistants will also fail in Scotland.

The introduction of VAR has proved to be just as contentious in the Premiership as it has in the English top flight, with SPFL managers and clubs repeatedly hitting out at on-field decisions being overturned while also complaining about the length of time refs take at the monitor. But Mulraney argues that axing the TV tech would risk putting Steve Clarke’s Scotland team and our club sides at a major disadvantage when they go up against Euro rivals. The Alloa chairman said: “VAR is here to stay 100 percent. Unequivocally, 100 percent.

"The alternative is that our big teams are disadvantaged in Europe and our national teams are disadvantaged in Europe. It’s going nowhere.

“VAR for our nation is still newer than it is for other nations. We think – and I genuinely believe this – that the implementation has been successful.

“Anybody that thinks we are way behind the curve in Europe or so forth needs to go and visit some of these other countries because when I do go, all I hear about are the challenges they’re having with VAR. And of course the problem is that when VAR came in, lots of people thought that would mean no more mistakes.

“It was never going to stop mistakes, it was simply going to make them less. I was last to the party with VAR – because I didn’t want it.

“I was chair of the PGB (Professional Game Board) that brought it in and I will tell you why. This European Championship we are going to