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Rangers-daft ex referee considered leaving Ibrox early after VAR 'farce' in Kilmarnock win

A Rangers-supporting former referee has revealed how he almost walked out of Ibrox during their win over Kilmarnock after a "farce" of a wait.

Jeff Winter, the former Premier League whistler, was among the thousands of frustrated punters watching Gers' 4-1 win over their opponents on Sunday afternoon who had to contend with a number of lengthy stoppages for two penalty calls as well as a Joe Wright red card decision. Referee David Dickinson was called to the VAR monitor a number of times and Winter reckons the time it takes for calls to be made has forced fans to fall out of love with the game.

And even after his beloved club were awarded a penalty - which James Tavernier would miss - Winter told cryptocasino that the delays had caused him to get fed up with the game regardless of what was to come.

“I’m a Rangers fan, but when James Tavernier stepped up to take that penalty after 22 minutes, I couldn’t have given a damn whether he scored it or not because it had been a complete and utter farce," he said.

“I’m now officially passed knowing and caring what’s going on with VAR.

"A lot of fans have come from far and wide to watch a game of football and after 22 minutes I could easily have got up and left the stadium because the paying fans don’t have a clue what is going on.

“The fans watching on TV at home are sending messages to pals at the game telling them what is going on.

“Football cannot tolerate this level of stop start. Two minutes into the game we’re sat there for the best part of three minutes. I looked up at the stadium clock and 22 minutes had gone when he had the delay over the incident which led to the red card and the penalty.

“The keeper pulled off an amazing save and there’s no goal but by that point a lot of the fans around me were equally turned off by it.

“I’m up here for the weekend and haven’t watched much telly so if you’re asking me was something offside or this and that, I don’t know.

“I was just the mug who paid good money to watch a game of football and the people who have got a little bit more of an idea are those who are sitting at home watching in television.

“At least they are getting the reruns and commentary. I’m not saying screens in the ground and more dialogue its going to make the problem go away because referees now are stopping making decisions.

“Why make a decision and look foolish when you’ve got the fallback of VAR.”

Winter also believed even the referees of big fixtures in the Scottish Premiership are DREADING being given the games as they've got no chance.

He said: “If the referee had said b******s to this and thrown his whistle on the pitch and walked off, he’d have got a massive round of applause.

“He’s the experienced guy, and he’s not being allowed to referee a game of football.

“There used to be a time when you refereed with a smile on your face. We’ve moved on now and if a ref was smiling the players would be saying he wasn’t taking it seriously enough.

“I don’t see many of them looking like they’re enjoying it. Especially when players are quizzing them after an overruled decision and saying, ‘Are you sure, ref? You got the last one wrong.’

“I feel for the referees at times because they look like rabbits caught in the headlights. They’re under pressure and you can see the frustration and if that’s affecting your mindset are you really going to have a good game.”