Barry Ferguson couldn't believe Nicky Clark was marched off against Rangers by Willie Collum - and the decision has him adamant that full-time referees and ex-players in the VAR room are required.
The St Johnstone attacker had his challenge on Ryan Jack overturned after the experienced whistler dismissed him in a 2-0 Premiership loss at Ibrox. He returned to play an important role in Callum Davidson's side beating Motherwell 2-0 midweek and Ferguson says it shows that refs getting the time to hone their skills could help improve officiating in Scotland. Collum was afford the chance to check his decision with VAR but opted to stick to his guns
Speaking on Go Radio, the Rangers hero and Record Sport columnist admits Collum's call left him perplexed: "I have heard a lot said about referees going full-time and would it help, and I think it would. You have got to respect they are out working all day and if they are full-time, they do training during the morning and can look at mistakes made previous.
"I do think it would benefit if our referees went full-time and that's up to the powers to find the investment. I think it would make them better.
"I think Willie Collum is one of the best about but I look at the decision he made on Saturday, and I couldn't believe it, I didn't think it was a booking. He decided what he wanted to do was send him off, wrong decision, and thankfully St Johnstone won the appeal. Going full-time would make a difference."
And Ferguson adds an ex-pro could also help out: "See for instance if an ex-player was in the VAR dungeon as I call it, if they are watching a game and he sees the incident with Nicky Clark, he will say no way.
"If an ex-player is in the room, he will communicate with VAR and say no sending off. A lot of people will talk about allegiances against certain teams, nonsense, you have got to be fair."
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