Brendan Rodgers believes VAR was a resounding success at the World Cup – and feels it’s time it was now rolled out in the Champions League.
Piloted in various domestic cup competitions throughout the world in the past year, the introduction of the system into the greatest show on earth was still met with a degree of scepticism.
While the interference of the panel sitting in Moscow didn’t eradicate every controversy, by and large, more correct decisions were arrived at.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers believes VAR was a resounding success at the World Cup
And with the stakes never higher in the business end of Europe’s premier club competition, the Celtic manager feels UEFA now following FIFA’s lead in adopting the system can only be a good thing.
‘I thought VAR worked very well at the World Cup,’ Rodgers said.
‘We were probably all a little bit sceptical of it at the beginning, after seeing it in England earlier in the season.
‘There was one Liverpool game where there was a delay for seven minutes. People were waiting when it was in the middle of the winter which wasn’t ideal.
‘But in Russia is was very slick in the main and a lot of the decisions were correct and it didn’t really alter the flow of the game.
‘So I think it worked very well.’ Asked if the money involved in the Champions League these days made it imperative to ensure refereeing errors were kept to a minimum, Rodgers replied: ‘There is obviously a big financial implication involved in it.
The use of the VAR system in Russia led to France earning a penalty in the final against Croatia
‘With the money involved in the Champions League, that’s a great point.
‘I just think it’s shown that it can work and work well.
‘But of course there’s a huge investment needed for it.’
Pressed on whether Argentinian referee Nestor Pitana had arrived at the correct decision via VAR for awarding France a penalty for handball against Ivan Perisic in the World Cup Final, Rodgers said: ‘If you’re French then yes.. The rest of the world felt sorry for Croatia.
‘But our French boys are adamant it was a penalty.’
Meanwhile, Rodgers is unsure what effect the early closure of the English transfer window will have on the Scottish champions.
Rodgers believes VAR should be brought into next season’s Champions League
In order to preserve the integrity of the English Premier League, officials have decided no players can only be signed after August 9 – although they can still be shipped out after that date to a country whose window is still open.
Rodgers said: ‘It will probably affect us in some capacity.
‘Until we actually experience it for the first time we won’t really know.
‘It’ll just quicken up the selling or loaning of players because clubs only have until the first week in August now.
‘But we’ll probably know better after we experience it.
‘The Premier League clubs will have to make earlier decisions on players. But I can see the concept and it is right.’
‘When your season starts it’s always difficult when you have guys in the changing room thinking about staying or going.’
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