Ange Postecoglou wants VAR to stop becoming the “star of the show” following another week of technology controversy as he responded to the fact the relevant camera was pointing the WRONG way at Jota’s disallowed goal.
The SFA revealed the angle from which VAR David Dickinson ruled out the Portuguese star’s strike in the win over Motherwell at Fir Park on Wednesday” did not capture an appropriate view of the incident”. Hampden chiefs responded to Celtic ’s demand for answers over the fact the camera used appeared to be in the the Hoops half and it was due to the fact the camera operator in the Motherwell half reportedly missed the incident.
Postecoglou is growing frustrated at the circus surrounding VAR since it’s introduced and insists it’s why he didn’t get caught up in the hype in the first place. The Aussie said he can accept wrong decisions but is struggling with everything else around it.
As he prepares to face Ross County on Saturday in the final game before the World Cup winter break, he said: “Human beings are involved but the fact a camera is not pointing to where it should be when we only have six cameras… I’m kind of hoping they went through this process before they actually said ‘these are the protocols’. But you have to allow human error within that context.
"We understand VAR is part of the game, we’ve introduced it so let’s get on with it but don’t make it the star of the show and unfortunately at the moment that’s what it is. I don’t think it helps anyone - clubs, coaches, referees, players, fans - to have VAR as the focus of every week’s discussion.
“For me it’s not about the decisions because I still think with VAR there are going to be decisions that are contentious. To me it’s just about the process and it’s why I was uncomfortable with the fanfare when we introduced it. It was the talk of the town ‘VAR’s coming’ but Australia - which everyone seems to think is a backwater - had VAR four years ago.
“It’s not a new thing, it’s been around for quite a while. Referees in our league who referee in Europe have used it. We make it out as if this is a really big thing and big expectations. For me, it should have just been ‘We’re prepared, we’re ready, we’re bringing it, let’s get on with it’ but we made this big fanfare and now we’re saying to expect teething problems.
“I don’t know why there would be teething problems for something that’s been around for four or five years. If we’re not ready then don’t start with it. Just wait until we’re ready and get going. For me it’s not about the decisions. They’re saying Jota was offside and have evidence of that - whatever that evidence is - and that’s fine. Even if they’re wrong, I don’t care. It’s a decision. There’s plenty of wrong decisions.
“For me, it’s the intrusion it has in the game. It’s why I was uncomfortable with the whole week leading up to it. We sort of had this fanfare about something that’s not new. Whether you bring it in mid-season or end of season it doesn’t matter - if it’s ready.”
Celtic will head Down Under during the break and he said: “The fact the break is coming up is not the key bit. The key bit is we want to continue our form and our performances in the league. We’ve come through a crazily hectic period of what will be our 13th game in 40-odd days including Champions League and travel and the fact the boys have been so resilient through this time with our league form has been a credit to them and we want to finish strongly and make sure all the games in this period in terms of performances and results continue. "
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