The Scottish Premiership and selected competitions in the SPFL will bring in VAR a couple of months earlier than planned, the league announced on Wednesday.
In a vote in April, 41 of 42 clubs voted to bring VAR to Scotland. They agreed that the change would come after the next World Cup. However, officials decided to use the technology this month.
Scottish clubs harassed the SPFL to bring in VAR faster than previously agreed. FIFA, the sport’s world governing body, agreed with the decision and gave the green light.
SPFL COO Calum Beattie explained the decision to introduce VAR earlier than planned. “When 41 of the 42 clubs voted at our General Assembly in April to introduce VAR in the Premier League, we said the technology would be introduced after the World Cup,” Beattie said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Our clubs made it clear that they wanted VAR to be introduced as soon as possible and the Scottish FA deserve real credit for being able to make this announcement ahead of schedule.”
Referees have apparently come under the microscope more and more in recent years. However, Crawford Allan, Head of Umpire Operations in Scotland, has applauded the decision. “We are delighted to have received approval to introduce VAR to Scottish football,” said Allan.
“As we have seen around the world, VAR has helped ensure that a higher percentage of on-field refereeing decisions are accurate and that is a principle our referees stand by.”
Add VAR to SPFL
However, the SPFL does not plan to use VAR in the same way as other countries. According to the official statement from the SPFL, the organization does not include offsides as part of the VAR criteria.
Instead, their sole purpose lies in red card situations, penalty box incidents, goals and cases of mistaken identity. Scottish stadia will now have a minimum of six cameras to help ensure as many quality viewing angles as possible.
Along with league matches, VAR reaches into the Scottish Cup and League Cup semi-finals and finals. The first game in which VAR will be involved will be on October 21 between Hibernian and St. Johnstone.
