Motherwell majority shareholder: VAR makes fan experience 'significantly worse', as call made for wider debate on technology
It comes as a majority of fans expressed their frustrations over the technology in a recent survey
Motherwell's majority shareholder has called for a wider discussion over VAR in Scottish football after none of their members backed the technology in its current form during a consultation.
Fans were almost equally split on whether VAR should be scrapped immediately or "fundamentally reformed" but none of the supporters who took part in the Well Society survey felt VAR should remain unchanged. Less than one per cent were "unsure".
A total of 63 per cent of respondents said they did not support VAR in Scottish football while 60 per cent said the use of the video technology had made their experience as a supporter "significantly worse".
A Well Society statement read: "Fans spoke about long delays, a lack of clear communication, inconsistent decisions, and a growing sense of disconnect between those in the stands and those officiating on the pitch.
"Rather than building trust in decisions, many feel VAR has done the opposite, creating more distance between supporters and the game itself.
"Some still see potential for technology to play a role in football, if used in the right way. But the overwhelming feeling from our fan base is that VAR, as it stands in Scotland, is simply not working. A system designed to bring clarity has, for many, only added more confusion."
The use of video technology to aid match officials was brought into the Premiership in October 2022 and a number of managers have expressed their frustration over its implementation since then.
Well Society director David Cullinan added: "As a fan-owned club, we have a duty to listen. This wasn't about grabbing attention. It was about listening to what our supporters really think. And they've made it clear that VAR, as things stand, is letting them down.
"The Society will be taking their views on board and working on a plan of action, which we'll share with members in due course.
"This is just the start of a wider discussion, and we're calling on clubs across Scotland to stand with their supporters and be part of it."
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