Crossword Genius

Add colour to refereeing scandal that is boring? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

variegate

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'add colour' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'refereeing scandal that is boring?' is the wordplay.
'refereeing' becomes 'VAR' (video assistant referee is a type of refereeing).
'scandal' becomes 'gate' (as in Watergate and other formations).
'that is' becomes 'ie' (short for Latin 'id est', 'that is').
'boring?' is an insertion indicator (some letters must 'bore' a hole into other letters).
'var'+'gate'='vargate'
'vargate' enclosing 'ie' is 'VARIEGATE'.

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for variegate that I've seen is " Diversify with patches of different colours".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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