Scottish Premiership: Review panel says 13 more VAR decisions incorrect
- Published
This is the first full season with VAR in the Scottish Premiership
Scottish football's referee chief insists VAR is "adding value and accuracy" to the game - despite a review showing a big increase in wrong decisions.
Thirteen decisions have been deemed incorrect by the Scottish FA's VAR independent review panel during the second round of Premiership fixtures - including the last Old Firm derby.
It represents a significant rise from the three errors reported across the opening round of top flight games.
However, Scottish FA Head of Referee Operations Crawford Allan insists VAR continues to improve Scottish football.
"VAR is something that is now part of the top table of football at the top professional levels," he told BBC Sport Scotland.
"Why would you want to get rid of something that factually does improve decision making in the game? Especially when there's money involved in it at that level of the game.
"That's what it was brought in for - and we've got proof that it is adding value and accuracy to the Scottish football diet."
The findings say VAR was wrong not to recommend a review of Celtic defender Alastair Johnston's handball in the last Old Firm derby.
However, the panel also noted an offside in the build-up which would have ruled out a penalty award to Rangers on 30 December.
The panel, made up of former players, managers and coaches "guided by experts on the laws of the game", was set up by the Scottish FA for the first full campaign with the video technology in place.
Across the first two rounds of games there have been 785 VAR reviews, with the majority "silent checks" requiring no intervention.
The latest figures released by the Scottish FA say 51 checks resulted in on-field reviews, while another 24 have been factual overturns (offside, inside/outside penalty area).
What decisions were considered to be incorrect?
BBC Scotland understands the panel found the following calls wrong.
VAR correct to recommend an on-field review for a potential penalty for Hearts' Liam Boyce. Decision should then have been penalty. (Motherwell v Hearts, 11 Nov)
VAR should have recommended an on-field review after Rangers' Ross McCausland was awarded a penalty. Decision should then been no penalty (Livingston v Rangers, 12 Nov)
VAR should have recommended an on-field review for a potential red card for Kilmarnock's Will Dennis. Decision should have been red card. (Kilmarnock v Hearts, 2 Dec)
VAR should have recommended an on-field review for a foul in the build-up to Motherwell's Bevis Mugabi's goal. Decision should have been disallow goal. (Motherwell v Dundee, 2 Dec)
Should Watkins have seen red for elbow from kick-off?
VAR should have recommended an on-field review for a potential red card for Kilmarnock's Marley Watkins. Decision should have been red card. (Aberdeen v Kilmarnock, 6 Dec)
VAR should not have recommended an on-field review for a penalty after a foul on Rangers' Abdallah Sima. On-field decision of no penalty should have stood. (Rangers v Dundee, 9 Dec)
VAR should not have recommended an on-field review after Rangers' Jose Cifuentes was awarded a yellow card. On-field decision of yellow card should have stood. (Rangers v Dundee, 9 Dec)
VAR should have recommended an on-field review for a potential red card for Hearts' Beni Baningime. Decision should have been red card. (Aberdeen v Hearts, 9 Dec)
VAR should have recommended an on-field penalty review for a handball offence by Celtic's Alastair Johnston. Panel noted an offside in the build-up so decision should have remained to not award penalty. (Celtic v Rangers, 30 Dec)
Why did Rangers not get penalty for Johnston handball?
VAR should have recommended an on-field review for a penalty for a foul on Hearts' Alan Forrest. Decision should have been to award a penalty. (Hearts v Ross County, 30 Dec)
VAR should not have recommended an on-field review for a penalty for a handball offence against Rangers' John Souttar. On-field decision to not award a penalty should have stood. (Rangers v Kilmarnock, 2 Jan)
VAR should not have recommended an on-field review for a potential foul in the build-up to Graham Carey's goal for St Johnstone. On-field decision to award a goal should have stood. (St Johnstone v Aberdeen, 24 Jan)
VAR should have recommended an on-field review for a potential foul in the build-up to Zach Robinson's goal for Dundee. Decision should have been to disallow goal. (Livingston v Dundee, 27 Jan)
Download the BBC Sport app: Apple, external - Android, external - Amazon, external