NEIL LENNON says he is in favour of VAR despite the technology working against Celtic in their Europa League tie against Copenhagen.
Ryan Christie was penalised for a handball in the area that was initially missed by referee Sergei Karasev, with the Russian official awarding a penalty to the home side after checking the incident on the pitch-side monitor. The spot-kick was subsequently saved by Fraser Forster.
Lennon wasn’t overly impressed by the pressure placed upon the referee to consult VAR by Copenhagen manager Stale Solbakken as he whipped up the home crowd, but he concedes it was the correct call, and says that the introduction of the technology in Scotland would be beneficial.
“It’s for the good of the game and the good of the referee,” Lennon said.
“I have no complaints. It was unfortunate for us, but if it was for me, I’d have been screaming penalty.
“Their manager was cheerleading the crowd. We were watching it as well and your heart is sinking.
“But with Fraser Forster in goal you never know what can happen and he’s made another brilliant save.”
Celtic centre-back Kristoffer Ajer echoed his manager’s viewpoint on VAR, with the defender believing that the cost of bringing it into Scottish football would be well worth it in order to give our referees as much help as possible to get big calls correct.
“VAR is a good thing,” said Ajer. “You get to deal with the facts. That can only be a good thing and I don’t have any problem with VAR.
“Okay, it cost us a penalty but it’s important to get the right decisions, whether it’s offsides or penalties or whatever.
“In Denmark it cost us a penalty and a booking but that’s fine, that’s how it goes, and you have to accept it.
“It might have gone against us but there will be times when it goes the other way.
“I know there is a lot of discussion about bringing VAR to Scotland. A lot of the talk is about how much it will cost but you see it in so many countries, of course it would be good to have it in Scotland.”
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