Kenny Dalglish, like most watching on Tuesday night, was left frustrated by the use of VAR technology in the match between Celtic and Atletico Madrid.
Daizen Maeda was sent off for catching Mario Hermoso in a 50/50 challenge for the ball. It left Brendan Rodgers deeply frustrated, to the extent that even he was shown a yellow card on the sidelines.
Celtic legend Dalglish actually takes a different stance from many on the incident. He understands why it could be considered a red card but he reckons the evidence to overturn the original yellow was flimsy.
He has even stated the VAR official should not have been in the booth in the first place.
Writing in his Sunday Post column today [12/11 print edition], Dalglish said: “Celtic were down to 10 men in their Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid. Daizen Maeda was red-carded for a tackle on Mario Hermoso after VAR intervened.
“I totally understand why Maeda was red-carded. He was high and late but there wasn’t any intent to cause harm. So, was it a clear and obvious error by referee, Ivan Kruzliak, to give Maeda a yellow in the first instance? No, a yellow was also acceptable.
“Also, should a Dutch official, in this case Johan Higler, be the VAR when Feyenoord, a team from the Eredivisie, is in the group? No. That is yet another example of questionable decision-making by UEFA.”
Dalglish goes on to argue that footballing authorities should be calling on former players more to help out with the VAR process. He feels that level of knowledge would aid referees in the decision-making process and the application of rules.
It’s an interesting point of view. It seems clear in many leagues and tournaments that the problems around VAR are only growing. The technology itself is sound for the most part but the interpretation of periods of play can be bizarre.
Solutions need to be sought, even if they seem experimental. The status quo isn’t working, as Rodgers pointed out himself in a media conference this week.