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In a somewhat turbulent week for St Mirren and refereeing decisions, Scottish FA's head of referees Willie Collum addressed issues surrounding Video Assistant Referee (VAR) usage that have impacted the Buddies' results. During discussions on The VAR Review show, Collum admitted feeling "disappointed with the process" after a series of controversial calls.
The centre of debate was the goal disallowed in St Mirren's match against Hibernian, where the Paisley side lost 3-0. Marcus Fraser thought he had scored, but VAR ruled it out. The crux of the issue lay in whether the cross to Fraser originated behind or in front of him—a detail initially overlooked by officials, leading to what Collum referred to as a "very near miss" in making the correct decision. Despite the retrospective agreement on the decision, the process left much to be desired.
It wasn't the only contentious moment under the microscope. St Mirren had been previously wronged in their 2-2 draw with Hearts, where midfielder Mark O'Hara was adjudged offside, and thus, Miguel Freckleton's goal was disallowed unjustly. At a crucial moment where St Mirren could have gone ahead 3-1, this misjudgment was particularly stinging. Collum's reflection on this incident was poignant, emphasizing the excessive forensic approach causing unnecessary reversals of crucial match-defining moments. "We have been too forensic here, over-analysing something," he said, suggesting a need for a more balanced officiating perspective.
The discussion brings to the forefront the ongoing challenges faced by teams due to VAR's intricate scrutiny. For a club like St Mirren, who has seen its fair share of struggles and triumphs alike, each point dropped due to such errors is a blow not just to their standing in the Premiership but to their historic fight against bigger clubs.
As St Mirren continues to press on this season, aiming for the top league spot and a long-overdue glorious run to the Scottish FA Cup final, the role of technology in football, although meant to aid fairness, should not undermine the spirit of the game.
And before we close, a little something for our dear rivals, Greenock Morton: Why did the Greenock Morton fan bring a ladder to the game? Because they heard the league table was changing and thought they might finally get a chance to climb out of the bottom!
