Nottingham Forest’s Greek owners were furious when they were denied three penalties in their defeat at Everton, posting on X that they had already warned referees’ chiefs the VAR was a fan of relegation rivals Luton.
Having jumped to the defence of the man in question, Stuart Attwell, and accused the Forest hierarchy of acting like ‘a mafia gang’, Sky pundit Gary Neville may now find himself the subject of legal action.
Over in Catalonia, Barcelona president Joan Laporta says he will demand a replay if it transpires that VAR wrongly determined that Lamine Yamal’s first-half goal in their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid had not crossed the line.
Citing the Belgian Pro League match between Anderlecht and Genk in December, which was replayed in full due to a VAR error, Laporta believes he might just be on to something as he seeks to prevent their great rivals closing out the La Liga title.
Remember those innocent days when supporters throughout the world naively welcomed the appliance of science on the basis that mistakes and perceived injustices would be eradicated?
How wrong we were.
If even the richest and most glamorous leagues in Europe have discovered that VAR creates just as many problems at it solves, why should Scotland — with fewer cameras angles to scrutinise —really be any different?
VAR FARCE 1: El Clasico controversy – Barcelona had a goal chalked off in a 3-2 defeat against Spanish rivals Real Madrid
VAR FARCE 2: Fine margins – Coventry had their FA Cup dream scuppered by a tight call
VAR FARCE 3 (x3): Trio of flashpoints – Nottingham Forest strongly believe they were denied three penalties at Goodison
A weekend of extraordinary controversy and fury across the continent even spilled over into the one moment that VAR definitely got correct.
Had Haji Wright provided a cross for Victor Torp without the presence of technology, Coventry City would have completed the greatest comeback Wembley had ever witnessed and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag would now be out of a job.
As it was, Wright was ruled offside by the narrowest of margins — and the millions of neutrals who saw a moment of jaw-dropping drama scored out of the record books were left talking about the heart and soul of the game being lost when a player’s uncut toenail cost him so dear.
You can’t have it both ways, though.
On matters of fact, such as offside, the vertical lines are drawn for the underdog just as they are for the hot favourite.
The trouble with VAR is that its remit goes beyond the realms of what’s factually right and wrong.
And when used in areas that have a distinct shade of grey, one man’s brave call will always be another’s glaring error.
The fundamental issue with the system isn’t so much the technology itself as the fact that it’s operated by humans.
And whether watching from Stockley Park, Clydesdale House or elsewhere, even specially-trained operators are fallible when it comes to working under intense pressure.
That infamous game in Belgium was replayed because the man in the booth simply didn’t see that players from both sides were guilty of encroachment at a Genk penalty.
The still images were clear. He just had a nightmare.
Across Europe, officials are also not helped by a rule book which is open to wide interpretation.
One referee’s view of a player making their body ‘unnaturally bigger’ while trying to block a cross isn’t necessarily shared by a colleague.
As for the ball travelling ‘some distance’ for a handball to merit a penalty? Answers on a postcard. Is that three yards, five yards or 10 yards?
We’ve seen occasional instances in all leagues where a referee has been called by VAR to the pitchside monitor only to disagree with the man sitting in HQ.
Often interpreted in different ways, in different countries and in different competitions, the ambiguous handball rule has been a stick with which to unfairly beat VAR.
A woolly rule book does no one any favours.
Where complaints about the usage of VAR are entirely legitimate is in the recent trend towards nit-picking.
Before its introduction in England in season 2019-20 and up here midway through the last campaign, supporters were sold a vision of ‘minimum interference — maximum benefit’ which would eradicate ‘clear and obvious errors’.
Whether stemming from an urge to justify their existence or a fundamental misunderstanding of their role, VAR has become more conspicuous on both sides of the border this season.
Motherwell’s home game with Aberdeen last month was the most glaring case in point.
No one on the pitch or in the stadium saw the ball brush against Theo Bair’s arm before Lennon Miller scored.
In no way, shape or form could it be construed as a clear and obvious error.
But VAR Steven McLean somehow believed it was. And referee Willie Collum agreed with him.
When supporters of both clubs leave the stadium completely perplexed about why a seemingly legitimate goal was ruled out, is it any wonder the vast majority would sooner throw the whole thing in the bin?
With fans initially willing to accept a bit of pain if the gain came in the form of the correct decisions eventually being arrived at, a review of the first and second rounds of fixtures in this year’s Premiership made for grim reading.
Thirteen decisions in games 12 to 26 were deemed to be incorrect by the SFA’s VAR independent review panel — a rise from three in rounds one to 11.
For clubs complaining on a Monday morning, an apology and an acknowledgement of an error just comes much too late.
About to reach for his coat, head of referee operations Crawford Allan claimed VAR was continuing to improve Scottish football.
It can safely be said that he’s very much in the minority on that one.
His successor has the unenviable task of restoring flagging faith in the system.
After Hawkeye failed in the vital moment during their recent game at Livingston, Aberdeen said the incident exposed a multitude of failings. Few would take issue with that view.
Given their time again, supporters across the world would do all they could to prevent VAR coming in.
Looking enviously towards the lower leagues and to Sweden —where the monster was never allowed to come across the hill —does them no good now, though.
The genie is out of the bottle and it’s not going back in.
That will come as scant consolation to fans of Scottish Premiership clubs as the defining post-split fixtures come into view.
However, as events on Merseyside, at Wembley and in Barcelona at the weekend demonstrated, they are not suffering alone.