Scottish football using aeroplane pilots to help VAR as Willie Collum makes 'life or death' cockpit comparison

Daily Record

28-07-2025

Scottish football using aeroplane pilots to help VAR as Willie Collum makes 'life or death' cockpit comparison
Aviation experts spoke to top officials at Hampden in a bid to improve how refs speak to each other using in-game mics
Willie Collum
Refs chief Willie Collum has revealed that the SFA have drafted in PILOTS to help improve communication over VAR.
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It was one of the issues with the technology that fans found infuriating after wrongs calls, with released audio often failing to clear up why decisions were made or in some cases, only increasing the sense of injustice.
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Now Collum has drafted in aviation experts to help coach refs on how to speak to each other via their mics during games, similar to how the cockpit would speak to mission control during flights to make sure everyone understands each other.
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He explained: "We spent time with the top match officials in the country and we brought two aviation experts in to talk to the referees about their comms on VAR and how they should be looking at incidents in that environment, which is very similar to the cockpit.
"It's a high pressure environment, life or death for pilots - people might say life or death for football as well! But it's that same high pressure environment. How do you communicate? How do you keep your composure? How do you take cognisance of what the situation is showing you? These are elements were pushing t make improvements in.
Collum also stressed that VARs will need clear evidence of incidents before getting involved in goal line decisions.
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Easter Road played host to two controversial examples last term involving both Celtic and Rangers.
The champions saw a late equaliser against the Hibees ruled out after Daizen Maeda turned home an Alistair Johnston cross. Ref Steven McLean awarded the goal, only for VAR Alan Muir to get in his ear recommending it be chalked off.
A fuming Brendan Rodgers accused officials of guessing after the game, and both Collum and the KMI panel later admitted the goal should have stood.
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Rangers were on the receiving end when they visited the capital in the final game of the season.
Belgian Nico Raskin looked to have forced the ball over the line from close range. However, this time on field ref Matthew McDermid waved play on and the hosts went up the pitch and levelled through Kieron Bowie.
Referee Steven McLean confirms the ball was out of play in the build up to Daizen Maeda's second goal after a VAR check
(Image: SNS Group)
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The expected intervention from VAR Nick Walsh never came and the goal stood with the game ending in a 2-2 draw.
Gers released a stinging statement afterwards, questioning the "effectiveness" of VAR and demanding goal line technology be introduced.
SFA guidance indicated that the goal wasn't given due to there being no conclusive proof that that the ball crossed the line, despite replays showing it well over.
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Collum has reiterated that clear images will be needed for VAR to intervene this season.
"We've told the referees, last season that those incidents were difficult decisions but we want there to be factual proof before we make a decision," he told Sky Sports.
Rangers star Nicolas Raskin believes he has the ball over the line against Hibs
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"We want there to be clear images that show the decision we're giving. If they are not able to do that, if the images don't show that, then we support the on-field decision and we go with that.
"People don't expect anything other than that. you need conclusive evidence, conclusive proof before you get involved as a VAR."
Collum also admitted that decisions should be easy to understand after they've been made. He added: "We want more of of the same in terms of football understanding. Everybody understands there's always going to be exceptions but we made good ground, particularly on handball. We made good ground.
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"I said a year ago, we could come to a more football understanding on handball and I think there's been less controversial handballs given. You will still get outliers, that will happen again this season and we'll need to deal with them as we go. But we definitely want a more consistent approach.
"We also want to avoid any of the errors which are difficult to explain. Everybody understands subjective decisions and difficult decisions. What we want to avoid are decisions where everybody is looking at it and they don't understand why we've reached that decision."