Barry Ferguson reckons Kevin Clancy should be allowed to referee Saturday's Old Firm clash between Celtic and Rangers WITHOUT the constant intervention of VAR.
Celtic are nine points clear of their Glasgow rivals going into the match at Parkhead, and anything other than a victory would surely end Rangers slim Scottish Premiership title chances. That means the stakes are high for both teams. Clancy is tasked with being the man in the middle and Ferguson is adamant that the use of VAR should be limited, after the technology has created numerous talking points since its introduction last October.
Former Hoops striker and Sky Sports pundit Andy Walker delivered a bombshell earlier this week when he revealed TV companies had access to listen in to what's being said in the VAR truck, which prompted Ferguson to question why there isn't more transparency over why certain decisions are made. He told Go Radio: "It's like the secret service. You're not allowed to know anything!" Ferguson then went on to demand that Clancy is allowed to make his own decisions and use the showpiece clash as an opportunity to show that he's one of the country's top whistlers.
"Let him referee the game tomorrow. Let him referee. He's an experienced referee," he continued.
"There is going to be a mistimed tackle or somebody coming in and misjudging a header and maybe a wee elbow in the back of the neck or whatever. But I think Kevin Clancy will realise that there's a lot lying on the game and I think he's got the experience to realise that.
"I just hope he's allowed to go and referee it himself, and hopefully VAR doesn't get involved."
It's not just VAR that Ferguson is apprehensive about going into derby day. The former Light Blues captain admitted that Celtic's dynamic wingers could cause Rangers full back's James Tavernier and Borna Barisic nightmare's if they are given time on the ball.
He added: "Games are won and lost in the midfield. They are two key areas for both Celtic and Rangers but there's a couple of other areas as well. The full-back areas for Rangers, it's going to be Jota and [Daizen] Maeda for me, there's no doubt about that now with [Liel] Abada being out. They need to make sure they force them back.
"They can't give them two any space because in previous games if you look back, that's where Celtic have really hurt Rangers from the kick-off. I'm sure they will have watched back videos and they would have been doing team shape on when Jota, when Maeda receive the ball they are right up against them and forcing them back the way."
READ NEXT
