Independent review finds sharp increase in VAR mistakes in Scotland

Published 15th Feb 2024

Scottish football's Independent Review Panel has claimed there has been a sharp increase in wrong VAR decisions.

The IRP judged that 16 key match incidents (KMIs) have reached an incorrect outcome since the start of the season- with 13 of them coming in the second full round of cinch Premiership fixtures.

Rangers had made a request to the Scottish Football Association that Willie Collum be excluded from any involvement in any Gers match following a non-penalty incident in the Old Firm game at the end of last year.

Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston handled the ball inside his own penalty area at Parkhead under pressure from Gers attacker Abdallah Sima.

The IRP claimed indeed that Collum should have recommended an on-field review for a potential penalty but noted that the offside ruled that the decision not to award the spot-kick was ultimately correct.

Among the 13 decisions that the IRP questioned this time around were two penalties for Rangers - one given for a challenge on Ross McCausland at Livingston and against Sima against Dundee at Ibrox - and the one awarded against Light Blues defender John Souttar against Kilmarnock.

Asked if the rise in wrong calls from the perspective of the IRP was a concern, Allan said: "We see it as realism. Football is subjective. We accept the view of the independent review panel and we think they have a role to play in assisting us to ensure we are not seen to be marking our own homework.

"In terms of the numbers, we look at the reviews and types of incidents and we have got a heck of a lot more right.

"We have literally got hundreds correct and Scottish football has a habit of focusing in on the tip of the iceberg when we have a huge iceberg below which no-one really bothers about because we get it right.

"In the hundreds of potential reviews that we have had this year, we are in the same percentage areas as other countries.

"It is something we won't lose sight of but we will continue to develop our referees and support them."

Full list of mistakes according to the Independent Review Panel:

VAR was correct to recommend an on-field review for a potential penalty for Hearts’ Liam Boyce. Decision should then have been penalty. (Motherwell v Hearts 11/11/23)

VAR should have recommended an on-field review after Rangers’ Ross McCausland was awarded a penalty. Decision should then been to not award the penalty (Livingston v Rangers 12/11/23)

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 02/12/23

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 to disallow the goal. (Motherwell v Dundee 02/12/23)

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 06/12/23)

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 09/12/23)

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 09/12/23)

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 09/12/23)

VAR should have recommended an on-field review for a potential penalty 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 the penalty. (Celtic v Rangers 30/12/23)

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 30/12/23)

VAR should not have recommended an on-field review for a penalty for a handball offence against Rangers’ John Souttar. On-field decision of to not award a penalty should have stood. (Rangers v Kilmarnock 02/01/24)

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 24/01/24)

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 not award the goal. (Livingston v Dundee 27/01/24)

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