‘It’s letting fans down’ – Well Society urge wider debate on VAR in Scottish football

Motherwell’s majority shareholder has called for a wider discussion on the use of VAR in Scottish football after none of their members backed the technology in its current form.

During a Well Society consultation, external, a near unanimous 99.3% of respondents believe VAR either needs to be “scrapped altogether or fundamentally reformed”. The other 0.7% were unsure.

A total of 63% of respondents said they did not support VAR in Scottish football, while 60% 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 fanbase 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.”

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. 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.”