Crawford Allan: Scottish FA head of referees to leave post in summer amid VAR review
- Published
Crawford Allan has overseen the introduction of VAR during his four years in charge
Scotland's head of referees Crawford Allan is to leave his post at the end of the season as the Scottish FA conducts a review of the role in light of ongoing VAR controversies.
The governing body says Allan, who has been in the role for four years, is leaving "to pursue new opportunities".
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell admits that "VAR processes need to improve".
He urged all parties to "work together to alleviate unsustainable pressure on match officials and VAR operators".
Maxwell wants "to remove the convenient blame culture attached to subjective or unpopular decisions and to ensure more focus is placed on the entertainers rather than the on-field facilitators".
He told the SFA website: "This includes all key external stakeholders having a better understanding of the laws of the game, the lines of intervention for VAR and the adopted guidance within Scottish football, especially in subjective areas such as the handball law."
The SFA has started its search to "ensure an experienced replacement will be in place for the new season".
"This will coincide with a planned review of the operational priorities of the department based on the insights to date from VAR implementation, as well as feedback from category one match officials and VAR operators, the Scottish FA's professional game board, the SPFL's competitions working group and the independent review panel," Maxwell added.
The chief executive thanked Allan for "his efforts in implementing VAR within Scottish football and guiding refereeing through the Covid-19 pandemic", describing the introduction of video assistant referee system as "a thankless task".
Allan considers it "an honour" to have been in charge "during such an historic period of change" following his 30 years as a match official, including 15 years in the top flight.
"While there are refinements and improvements to be made to VAR, as there are in leagues across the world, it has taken a monumental effort from my team at the Scottish FA and the match officials to have it embedded in the Premiership and cup matches at Hampden Park," he said.
"VAR is only one aspect of the role, albeit one that can overshadow the positive strides we have taken forward."
'An admission the SFA have made a mess of VAR'
Former referee Steve Conroy
Right at the beginning, when Mr Maxwell said its introduction was going to be a car crash or words to that effect, I think Crawford has been on to a loser right from the beginning.
I'm surprised that he's stuck it out as long as he has, especially with VAR. He's just had such bad timing that his tenure has coincided with this.
VAR has just been a constant source of, at the very least, annoyance to him since since it came out and I'm sure that's a very watered down word for the way that he feels about it.
The main thing that got me about that SFA statement was that supporters weren't even mentioned on it.
I think it tells me a lot about the arrogance of the SFA when they didn't mention that they were going to canvas opinion of fee-paying punters - and an admission that they have just made a complete mess of it since it came out.
There is talk already about trying to recruit somebody from abroad, but I can't imagine that anybody outwith these shores would be rushing to join with us at this moment.
We've just had a weekend of unfathomable handball decisions and that just seems to be the gift that keeps on giving.