Tech-savvy football fans could land a £60-a-match job sitting at the heart of some of Scotland’s biggest VAR dramas.
Hawk-Eye Innovations Replay Centre in Glasgow, which provides match-day officiating and tracking technology for Scots football and rugby, is advertising for a “quick learner” with “knowledge of the laws of the game” and a keen interest in “technology and sport” to work behind the scenes during SPFL matches.
Role details and pay
The Graphics Operator/Video Information Officer role pays £60 per match on a freelance/casual basis and will put the successful candidate right in the thick of the action. They will help relay information from the video assistant referee to fans inside stadiums and TV audiences.
The matchday role involves arriving at the Glasgow Replay Centre around an hour before kick-off and staying on duty for up to 30 minutes after the final whistle. Weekend and midweek evening work will be required, so applicants will need to be flexible.
Training and requirements
Hawk-Eye says full training will be provided, with the advert promising “full exposure to our systems”. Applicants will, however, be expected to have a good technical grounding, knowledge of the laws of the game and an understanding of football situations. They must be comfortable in a high-pressure live broadcast environment.
Recent VAR controversy
VAR hit the headlines in May when it intervened in the closing stages of Celtic’s clash with Motherwell to award the Hoops a late penalty for a handball against Sam Nicholson which had been missed by the referee. The spot-kick helped Celtic secure a dramatic 3-2 victory during a tense title race run-in.
The decision triggered a backlash from rivals and renewed debate over the impact of VAR calls on the outcome of games. And with the technology continuing to spark debate among supporters, there could be few more interesting places to work on a matchday.
Hawk-Eye Innovations did not respond to our request for comment.
