Panel says VAR wrong to intervene for United penalty at Hibs

Dundee United should not have been awarded the penalty kick that allowed them to equalise against Hibernian on Saturday, according to the Scottish FA's key match incident review panel.

Three out of the five panel members thought VAR (video assistant referee) Greg Aitken "incorrectly intervened to suggest" an on-field review.

With the hosts leading through Lewis Miller's first-half header, United defender Emmanuel Adegboyega hit the ground after a pull on his shirt from two Hibs players as a free-kick was launched into the penalty box with a minute of normal time remaining.

Referee Colin Steven did not whistle for a foul, but after being directed to the monitor, he sent off Hibs striker Mykola Kuharevich for a second yellow card and awarded the spot kick from which Sam Dalby equalised.

While two members believed VAR had been correct to intervene and recommend a potential penalty, the majority did not "think the potential foul was clear and obvious enough".

The panel reviewed 23 VAR interventions for Premiership fixtures last midweek and at the weekend and found five where on-field decisions were correctly overturned.

It agreed VAR was correct to award a goal to St Johnstone in their 3-1 defeat by St Mirren despite striker Benjamin Kimpioka initially being ruled offside - and that the home side had a goal ruled out correctly for a foul in the build-up.

It also ruled that Aberdeen were correctly awarded a penalty for hand ball in their 2-1 win over Rangers - with goalkeeper Jack Butland saving from Jamie McGrath.

Penalties were also eventually correctly awarded for St Johnstone in their 2-1 defeat by Heart of Midlothian and for St Mirren in their 0-0 draw with Ross County.