Martin O'Neill believes the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) has a debilitating effect on officials during matches. Speaking at a Scottish Football Writers' Association event, the former Celtic manager stated that technology has stripped on-field referees of their authority. He suggested that officials now rely too heavily on remote reviews rather than their own judgement, according to The Guardian.
O'Neill also questioned the Scottish Football Association's current appeals process. He described the system for challenging decisions as worthless, claiming that the high threshold for overturning calls makes the procedure ineffective for clubs. The 72-year-old manager noted that the constant interruptions for reviews have altered the flow of the game, per reports in The Times.
The comments follow several controversial decisions in the Scottish Premiership that have drawn scrutiny from managers and supporters. O'Neill argued that the implementation of the system has failed to provide the clarity and consistency originally promised to the sport, according to Sky Sports.
