VAR (Video Assistant Referee) will be introduced to domestic Scottish football this month.
The technology will first be used in a competitive SPFL match on October 21st when Hibs host St Johnstone at Easter Road. It has already been used at Celtic Park and the home of Rangers, Ibrox, for European games while it's also seen action at Hampden for Scotland national team matches.
It is being introduced to all 12 Premiership stadiums ahead of schedule and will also be used for all Scottish Cup and Premier Sports Cup semi-final and final matches played at Hampden. Crawford Allan, Scottish FA Head of Referee Operations, said: “We are delighted to have received approval to introduce VAR in Scottish football. We have worked extensively over a near three-year period to get to this point, have tested in every cinch Premiership stadium as part of the training process, and we are ready to go.
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“As we have seen across the world, VAR has helped ensure a higher percentage of on-field refereeing decisions are accurate and that is a principle our match officials support.
“I am grateful to the match officials who have given up their time to take part in the training programme and I would like to thank our VAR working group and our key partners at the SPFL, and in particular its COO Calum Beattie, for his help throughout the development phase, as well as the cinch Premiership clubs who have all been supportive and engaged in the process.
“Hawk-Eye and QTV also deserve praise for their technological expertise in creating a world-class VAR centre here at Clydesdale House.”
The technology has been criticised for things like long delays in game south of the border while ex-referees like Mark Clattenburg have warned of initial teething problems."
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