FORMER Premier League match official Jon Moss is in line to be named as the new SFA Head of Referee Operations in the summer.
The 53-year-old one-time English top-flight ref has been mentioned as the man to take over from the departing Crawford Allan.
A much-needed shake-up is on its way after a series of VAR howlers since new technology was introduced – with Celtic on the receiving end of THREE controversial penalty-kick decisions in the champions’ first game, a 4-3 win over Hearts at Tynecastle on October 22 2022.
The hosts were awarded two video-assisted spot-kicks while the visitors were denied a stonewaller after defender Michael Smith had used a hand to divert a James Forrest cross.
PHANTOM PENALTY-KICK…Hearts were awarded a spot-kick after John Beaton’s intervention following the ball brushing the arm of Tomoki Iwata. An independent review ruled there should have been no intrusion from VAR and the award was wrong.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t got much better for the Hoops and earlier this week, as CQN reported, the latest VAR Independent Review Panel stated John Beaton should NOT have instructed referee Don Robertson to review a penalty-kick incident – ironically once again at Tynecastle on March 3.
The onfield official ignored a coming together of three players as they challenged for a high ball and saw nothing untoward. Seven home players were in the vicinity and not one claimed an infringement after the ball had brushed the arm of Tomoki Iwata who was looking in the other direction.
Astonishingly, Beaton spotted the phantom touch and ordered Robertson to have second look on his monitor. The referee then awarded the Edinburgh club a spot-kick from which they scored the opening goal just before the interval before going on to win 2-0 against 10-man Hoops who had Yang Hyun-jun sent off early on.
The independent reviewers deemed Robertson’s onfield decision correct and there was no requirement of an intrusion from Beaton.
I’M IN CHARGE…former Premier League referee Jon Moss who is tipped for top SFA post.
Sunderland-born Moss enjoyed a 23-year career across of the border, with 11 seasons in the Premier League and taking charge of the 2015 FA Cup Final, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
He retired two years ago before taking a top post as Select Group 1 Manager with England’s Professional Game Match Officials Board where he was involved in overseeing referees’ performances.
He left that role in March this year, around the same time the SFA announced Allan would be stepping down from his Hampden duties at the end of a season which has once again been hit by a series of VAR controversies.
Hampden chiefs have already confirmed a “review of the operational priorities of the department based on the insights to date from VAR implementation”.
They plan to take feedback from Category One officials and VAR operators, the Professional Game Board, the SPFL’s Competitions Working Group and Independent Review Panel.
It is expected one of Allan’s last decisions will be to appoint the match officials for the Scottish Cup Final when holders Celtic take on Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side at Hampden on May 25.
