Crossword Genius

Create difference, namely in refereeing scandal? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

variegate

'create difference' is the definition.

'namely in refereeing scandal?' is the wordplay.
'namely' becomes 'ie' (short for 'id est', 'that is' in Latin).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'refereeing' becomes 'var' (video assistant referee is a type of refereeing).
'scandal?' becomes 'gate' (as in Watergate and other formations).
'var'+'gate'='vargate'
'ie' placed within 'vargate' is 'VARIEGATE'.

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

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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