By John Dingwall,Mark Hogarth

Copyright dailyrecord

Safety fears have been raised after it was revealed VAR is causing anxiety among Scotland’s top footballers . A new study reveals that football stars have become more anxious and timid due to video referees monitoring games in the Scottish Premiership. Researchers quizzed the top-flight players on the controversial VAR technology and found that many, including Scotland internationals, feel they are being spied on. One player said: “I remember my first game playing with it and being told by the referee that VAR was watching me. “I feel like I’m constantly being watched and how close they are watching you. “It just plays constantly in the back of your mind.” Players also said the use of technology made them more nervous and less ‘gallus’ on the pitch, while putting their mental health at risk.. They feel unable to express themselves freely at key moments aware of the potential for decisions to be overturned. The study, which protects the anonymity of the players, was conducted by Edinburgh Napier University. It warns of “increased anxiety linked to the awareness of VAR monitoring”. Another player admitted: “When referees are telling you that VAR is watching you it can make you feel on edge and you think about VAR when you tackle because some decisions have been very soft and some not given.” Alastair Blair, operations director of fans group the Scottish Football Union, said: “VAR is sucking the joy out of the national game – and this study gives another reason why. “Supporters are already familiar with how the delays kill the atmosphere, but if players are also becoming more timid or docile in the way they perform, it’s chipping away at the character of Scottish football.” The study, published in the journal Managing Sport And Leisure, interviewed 10 Premiership stars, including four internationals, but their names and clubs are being kept under wraps. The report states: “Following VAR interventions, [they] frequently cited experiencing higher levels of mental anxiety and reduced confidence, leading to hesitancy in their decision-making and subsequent actions on the pitch. “The sense of being constantly watched, by cameras, officials and audiences fosters ‘docile bodies’, players who regulate their emotional expressions, physical engagements, and tactical decisions in line with unseen observers and uncertain standards. “Rather than liberating the game from human error, VAR embeds it more deeply within disciplinary frameworks that reward conformity and punish deviation. “Players no longer perform solely for team-mates or fans, but for evaluators, institutional authorities and digital witnesses.” He added: “It’s not only in Scotland that VAR is hated. I was in Argentina recently and they despise it there too. “But short of having a national walk-out by fans, it’s here to stay so – as the players in this study say – we have to find ways to make it work better.” Former Hearts player Ryan Stevenson said: “I wouldn’t be able to play today because of the stress. VAR hurts my head and I feel for players. “Every single player is already under so much stress from the pressure which they place on themselves because they want to win a game for their club and for the fans. “Now players are under even more pressure because decisions go to VAR. “They are being scrutinised over every single thing, whether an innocuous trip or a handball rule to the extent they have to try to defend with their hands by their side. “The pressure they are under is just incredible and the inconsistency of VAR decisions will only add to the stress. “Football is a working class game which is being ruined by guys in suits who are involved to make money but who really don’t understand actual football.” Former Hibs player Tam McManus , 44, said: “This is an interesting study that should be taken seriously. “VAR is adding stress to players. Blood pressure is going up. It feels like big brother is watching and I’m not surprised that football players are experiencing more ups and downs or emotional distress. “The people I feel most sorry for are the players, the managers and the fans in the stadium. “The players can’t experience that euphoria of scoring a last minute goal until it is checked. “Players think they have won or lost a game then someone checks a screen and it is a different result. “There needs to be changes made, specifically the handball rule. “If a ball hits a player’s hand and they give away a penalty in the last minute and they lose the game, it is the players fault and that can affect their mental health. “The worst thing for me about VAR as someone who has played the game and been lucky enough to score last minute goals is that players who score a last minute goal can’t celebrate the winner until three or four minutes later. “There may have been a tug in the box that didn’t affect the goal being scored but it is ruled out. “I would be glad to see the back of VAR tomorrow.” Video Assistant Refereeing was introduced in Scotland in 2022 to help eliminate refereeing errors. But many fans want it scrapped for holding up the game and robbing them of goal celebrations. Often players have to wait before celebrating a goal for fear of it being chalked off for marginal infringements. It was intended to eradicate errors by referees and linesmen but has faced criticism from fans and managers from day one. In one weekend this month, the SFA admitted VAR got four major decisions wrong in Premiership games, including two moments which favoured Hearts as they won 2-0 against Rangers at Ibrox. A Key Match Incident panel suggested referee Steven McLean was wrong to rule out Derek Cornelius’ goal for a foul on goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow moments before. Ref Steven McLean appeared to correctly chalk off the goal for Rangers after the German stopper had been pushed on the neck by a Rangers player before the ball hit the net. Despite the referee’s decision being upheld by VAR, the panel claimed the goal should have stood. The panel also claimed that Hearts should have had a goal disallowed in the same game because the ball hit his arm as Lawrence Shankland powered forward in the build up. Notably, the goal scorer did not celebrate until VAR deemed the goal should stand. Derek McInnes’ side won 2-0 at Ibrox thanks to a Shankland double. The KMI panel stated VAR should have intervened and the goal then disallowed. Both Celtic and Hibernian were wrongly awarded penalties, against Kilmarnock and Dundee United in the same weekend, according to the Scottish FA’s review panel. Ref John Beaton played on after Celtic forward James Forrest’s shot was deflected onto Lewis Mayo’s hand, only to reverse his decision after a VAR check. Dundee United’s late red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity that led to the penalty for Hibs was also rescinded. The SFA, which implements the technology, declined to comment.