WE MAY NOT BE Bi-Polar, but, those gallant few of us in Scotland with an appreciation for both of the popular codes of football played up here are often seen, by both code's myopia sufferers, as “a wee bit touched.”
When you think about it, there isn't that much difference between a 50-yard crossfield pass, from the likes of John McGinn and a Finn Russell kick-pass – other than Duhan van der Merwe is more-likely to score off the Russell “assist” than just about any Scottish player you care to name from the McGinn pass.
Both codes have albeit grudgingly adopted modern technology of late; Rugby Union through the TMO, Football via VAR. Notwithstanding the moger that was the recent Rugby World Cup final, where TMO Tom Foley did his level best to mess-up Wayne Barnes' last game by over-stepping his authority. Or that even-greater travesty of TMO interference – Sam Skinner's try which TMO Brian MacNeice ensured wasn't allowed in the Scotland v France game – the general consensus is, Rugby Union does technology better than football.
But, and this is technology's great weakness. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the competence of the human being interpreting the pictures, and, human's make mistakes.
To go back to my classical Latin from my school days - Juvenal's timeless phrase - Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? In English: “Who watches the watchmen?”
Both the TMO and the VAR systems take that old chestnut to almost infinity, since the guys in the TV trailer are watching the guy on the park, but, now, since the watchman's watchman cannot apparently be trusted to get it right in revision, do we have to appoint another to check the check on the original decision. At which stage do we stop?
Are we going to have to have a sporting version of the Appeal Court, then the Supreme Court, on to the European Court of Justice then the International Court at The Hague – with no goals or decisions confirmed until all these appellate routes have been exhausted?
Sounds like a nice career progression for a trained lawyer turned referee such as Football's Craig Thomson or Willie Young, or Rugby's Wayne Barnes.
VAR, as ever, came under greater pressure with the calls during Sunday's Hearts v Celtic game, at Tynecastle. And with that particular game in mind, here's a wee notion.
Why don't we go back to First Principles, and one of the founding tenets TMO of the game of Association Football – Law V, paragraph 2:
“The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. The decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected”.
The above is a direct quote from the Law Book; maybe we should go back to respecting that particular publication and perhaps the Football authorities, from FIFA and IFAB down should be telling the television companies:”Look guys, we welcome the money you give us, we respect the generally good job you do in helping us sell the game, but, remember the wise words of one of the past giants of your media game: “Comment is free, but facts are sacred.” So, if a referee says it's a goal, or a penalty – then that's a fact and your contrary opinions don't matter a jot.”
The TMO and VAR were brought in to try to prevent obvious miscarriages. Let's just accept, human fraility will guarantee that the odd mistake will sneak through. That's life, shite happens, whatever, let's get on with the game.
Nobody got killed at Tynecastle on Sunday – Celtic lost a game they expected to win; they failed to go top of the table, but, that was only match 29 of 38. They trail Rangers by two points, with another 27 points up for grab this season. There are still just under a quarter of the scheduled fixtures to play, plenty of time for them to overhaul that two-point deficit.
Celtic may yet win the League, there again, they may not, but, if they don't it is unlikely to be because VAR got it wrong on Sunday. Somebody should print-up Jock Stein's wise words about taking the referee out of the equation and stick it up on the home dressing room wall at Celtic Park.
For what it is worth, and on the basis of: “Opinions are like erse-holes, we all have one;” here is my take on Sunday:
The match officials didn't have their best afternoon
Hearts' penalty for handball – whatever happened to “The baw played him ref;” never a penalty – quite clearly, that's what happened
The sending-off: soft, but, if you kick an opponent on the head, even unwittingly, you have to go. You have a duty of care to your opponent.
The offside call against Lawrence Shankland: ludicrous, can we not go back to having the offside line measured on the most-forward part of the attacker's trunk, against the furthest-back part of the defender's trunk. The only part of Shankland's body that looked offside was maybe his left pinkie.
I had a hospital appointment on Monday, and the Phlebotamist accidently stood on my toes. She apologised and I quipped: “It's ok, VAR said 'No Penalty'.” Her response: “Aye, and neither were both penalties on Sunday.” She is not a Celtic fan by the way.
THE HAPPIEST man after the weekend was Scotland boss Stevie Clarke. Perhaps his biggest worry as we look ahead to this summer's Euros, is injury denying us the use of one or more of our small group of truly international-class players.
Since coming into the squad, goalkeeper Angus Gunn has looked the part. He was injured earlier this season, but, is now back between the sticks for Norwich City, which is welcome news for Clarke.
However, at the weekend, he saw impressive displays from our two back-up custodians, Motherwell's Liam Kelly at Ibrox and Hearts' Zander Clark at Tynecastle. That, as much as another impressive outing from the in-form Shankland, must have cheered the normally poker-faced Clark.
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