Stephen Robinson questions if clubs are getting 'value for money' with VAR

Daily Record

22-04-2025

Robinson highlighted a number of issues with VAR , including the failure to award a penalty against Celtic at the SMiSA, Olusanya's red at Fir Park and Bwomono being denied a penalty against St Johnstone
Stephen Robinson has called for improvements to VAR as he questions if clubs are getting 'value for money'.
The St Mirren gaffer spoke out this week as his club looks set to top a table of clubs most impacted by incorrect calls on the digital refereeing system for a second time; last season the Buddies had three VAR decisions adjudged to be incorrect.
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Robinson is now adding his voice to growing calls for improvements to the system — with Motherwell having this week released a statement in light of Kofi Balmer's red card against Kilmarnock being overturned.
'I don't believe anything has gone our way this season in terms of decisions,' he said. 'We're top of the VAR list for decisions against us.
'Motherwell are nowhere near where we are in terms of decisions against. They have had three in their favour against us for second yellow cards.
'They have obviously had their own issues with it. The red card against Kofi Balmer was rightly overturned.'
He added: 'Are we getting value for money? There have to be improvements.'
Since the turn of the year, one of the high-profile errors among many for the Buddies came in the club's 1-0 loss at home to St Johnstone in February when no spot-kick was given for a foul on Elvis Bwomono in the penalty box, with VAR agreeing with the on-field decision.
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This led to the club releasing a statement in which they expressed concerns after an 'accumulation of errors' by VAR against the club.
A month later the Saints were judged to have been the victim of another mistake, with Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum agreeing that the club should have been awarded a penalty in their home league loss to Celtic.
The incident saw Alistair Johnston's challenge against Roland Idowu judged fair as the visitors led 3-2, with the Premiership leaders going on to win 5-2.
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Speaking about the penalty claim, Collum said: 'For us, this is a penalty kick. This is a reckless challenge.
'The outcome here should've been penalty kick and yellow card.'
While Robbo has repeatedly conceded human error is part of the game, he believes improvements must be made to VAR if it is to continue being used.
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Rules such as not being able to challenge two yellows when the SFA deem the decision to be wrong — an incident Toyosi Olusanya was a victim of at Fir Park against Motherwell — was one aspect the Saints boss mentioned.
He said: 'It probably hasn't set out to do what it said — that's correcting human error.
'It is correcting some errors but ultimately it's still human beings making decisions and we have to be better — Willie Collum acknowledges that and the whole referee department acknowledges that. Everyone is doing their best. No one sets out to make mistakes.
'But it has to be better and we all know there has to be improvement with how VAR is used and what it's being used for.
'Second yellows that lead to reds affects you one week and the following week.'