SFA find ’13 wrong VAR calls’ as Rangers, Celtic and Hearts among clubs affected

It comes after just THREE were recorded in the previous checks

The SFA’s independent VAR review panel has found that 13 wrong calls have been made during the second round of Premiership matches.

The review process found a significant increase in incorrect decisions made compared to the first round of reviewed games which offered just three suggestions of wrong shouts – two of which involved the one club in Dundee. Among the 13 was the hugely controversial handball by Alistair Johnston in December 30’s Celtic vs Rangers clash during which no penalty was given.

The panel noted in that instance that an on-field review should have taken place but that an offside in the build-up would than have been given. Liam Boyce should have been awarded a spot-kick against Motherwell at Fir Park while Ross McCausland should NOT have had one for Gers against Livingston.

The SFA’s independent VAR review panel has found that 13 wrong calls have been made during the second round of Premiership matches.

The review process found a significant increase in incorrect decisions made compared to the first round of reviewed games which offered just three suggestions of wrong shouts – two of which involved the one club in Dundee. Among the 13 was the hugely controversial handball by Alistair Johnston in December 30’s Celtic vs Rangers clash during which no penalty was given.

The panel noted in that instance that an on-field review should have taken place but that an offside in the build-up would than have been given. Liam Boyce should have been awarded a spot-kick against Motherwell at Fir Park while Ross McCausland should NOT have had one for Gers against Livingston.

Other decisions include an unnecessary red card for Jose Cifuentes as well as a number of challenges which should have resulted in sendings off including Beni Baningime, Will Dennis and Marley Watkins.

Across the first two rounds of games there have been 785 VAR reviews, with the majority “silent checks” which required no action to be taken by the referee or VAR officials.

The SFA statement read: “Following the conclusion of the first two full rounds of SPFL Premiership fixtures in the 2023/24 season, the VAR Independent Review Panel (IRP) have met to consider Key Match Incidents (KMIs).

“The panel comprises former players, managers and coaches, guided by experts on the Laws of the Game.

“In the opinion of the IRP, based on incidents requested by the panel or submitted for consideration, 16 KMIs have been adjudged to have reached an incorrect outcome since the start of the season.

“To date, there have been a total of 785 VAR reviews conducted in the SPFL Premiership. Whilst the majority of these are silent checks of on field incidents which require no intervention, 51 have resulted in on-field reviews (0.4 on-field reviews per match) while another 24 have been factual overturns (ie offside, inside/outside penalty area)

89.3% of on-field decisions are considered correct by Referee Operations, increased to 97.6% when including VAR interventions.

“Scottish FA Referee Operations shared these statistics to the Premiership clubs on Thursday morning as part of an update on the performance of VAR in Scotland.”

According to a BBC Sport Scotland report the following moments are understood to be the 13 complaints.

VAR correct to recommend an on-field review for a potential penalty for Hearts’ Liam Boyce. Decision should 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)

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)

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)