Four wrong VAR decisions highlighted by SFA panel

Video assistant referees made four wrong decisions over the past week in the Scottish Premiership, including the red card that has since been rescinded for St Mirren defender Marcus Fraser against Dundee United.

While the correct decision by referee Matthew McDermid was wrongly overturned in that instance, there were two other incidents where VAR correctly intervened, according to the latest report from the Scottish FA's key match incidents review panel.

By a majority of 3-2, the panel decided that, while four of the panel agreed that United were correctly awarded a stoppage-time penalty kick by McDermid in their 2-0 win, Fraser was wrongly shown a red card for the challenge on striker Luis Moult after VAR intervention.

They did not think it was a "clear and obvious" denial of a scoring opportunity for VAR to become involved, while the other two panel members agreed with VAR that the referee had got it wrong.

The panel unanimously agreed VAR was correct to overturn McDermid's earlier decision not to award a penalty kick for Fraser's "careless challenge" on United midfielder Kevin Holt, who scored from the spot but then had his second penalty saved.

However, four of the panel members thought McDermid was wrong not to send off United goalkeeper Jack Walton for a challenge on St Mirren forward Toyosi Olusanya outside the penalty box, while one panel member thought VAR was right not to intervene.

By another 3-2 majority, the panel suggested referee Steven McLean and VAR were wrong not to award a penalty to Rangers for a handball by St Johnstone defender Jack Sanders during the first half of the Glasgow side's 1-0 victory.

Meanwhile, four of the panel agreed VAR should have intervened to recommend a red card for Aberdeen defender Jack Milne for a challenge that endangered the safety of Heart of Midlothian midfielder Beni Baningime during their 1-1 draw, the one dissenter suggesting the point of contact was low.

The panel was unanimous in suggesting the assistant referee was wrong to flag for offside against Rangers in their 6-0 win over Kilmarnock, with VAR correctly intervening to award a goal scored by striker Cyriel Dessers.