Stephen Robinson knows it’s changed days from when players used to routinely get away with a bad foul before even picking up a yellow card.
But he insists Scottish football has no choice but to keep up with rest of the world with VAR set to be introduced in the top flight for the first time this weekend.
Robinson has seen the game develop massively off the pitch since his time battling in midfield for the likes of Tottenham, Bournemouth and Luton Town.
The experienced 47-year-old knows there will be a tough bedding in period as Scottish officials get to grips with the new video assistance, which will be in use during St Mirren’s clash with Dundee United in Paisley this coming weekend.
The Buddies boss is adamant the introduction of VAR will be positive for Scottish football in the long term, even if there’s some short-term pain in the Premiership as decisions begin to be dissected much more thoroughly.
Robinson told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “Everyone has to be careful, you can’t get away with anything now.
“In the old days it was one warning for a foul before you even got your yellow card. Now there’s none of that.
“I was a big advocate of it before it came in and I’m glad it is coming in. I’d better control sprinting up and down the touchline too early though as I might get a red face!
“It has to come in. We’ve seen with decisions over the last few weeks. I’m not a referee-basher in any shape or form. I think they do the job to the best of their ability but everybody needs help.
“They’re human beings, they make mistakes. We all make mistakes and I think the more help officials get the better for the Scottish game as a whole.
“It’s not foolproof, we’ve seen that in England. There is still human error, human decisions are involved, but we’ve got the technology so we have to use it otherwise Scotland is going to be left behind.
“I genuinely feel it will help the referees. It may take a little time to get used to it, but I think it’s beneficial.”
While it will certainly take time to get used to for supporters, there should be no surprises for the St Mirren players after the SFA came in and explained exactly how the new system will work.
Checking crucial decisions like red cards and goals, Robinson admits his squad are going to have to be squeaky clean as the process comes into effect as soon as the attacking team gains possession.
Robinson explained: “They came in a couple of weeks ago and spoke to us. We found it enlightening. It was good.
“Sometimes listening to the commentators on TV, I’m not sure they all know how it works. Because I certainly didn’t.
“About how far the review goes back, when the review goes back and why these decisions are made.
“Sometimes they were asking us to make the decision and we still got the wrong decision.
“A lot of stuff goes into it, a lot of technology goes into it but it’s still the human eyes who look at the decisions.
“It was enlightening for everyone how far it goes back. When you first gain possession of the ball, so it’s a long way back at times.
“And how the process of elimination works in terms of ruling out the goal, ruling out offside, then ruling out a foul.
“We’re the top league in this country and we have to have the same technology as other leagues otherwise we would fall behind.
“It will be different, but I do believe it will take the game forward.”
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