Dundee United have reportedly demanded the SFA to share the VAR video and audio footage surrounding Sam Dalby’s disallowed goal against Hibs.
With the scores level 1-1 apiece at Tannadice, it appeared the Premiership’s top scorer Dalby fired his side back into the lead with a fine header at the back post.
On-field referee David Dickinson initially awarded the goal but VAR decided to step in, firstly to check whether Dalby was offside and secondly whether he had scored with his arm.
The two checks took around four minutes in total and it was later revealed that the reason why it took so long was because VAR Matthew MacDermid wasn’t able to determine the offside call.
He could not align the computerised offside lines with the last Hibs defender because the camera angles available to him were of no conclusive use.
So he moved on to the handball check and eventually ruled a factual overturn of the Dalby goal due to him scoring with his arm.
The TV camera angles displayed on both DUTV and the BBC’s Sportscene highlights show were not able to conclusively prove that Dalby had made a handball offence.
It left Jim Goodwin fuming over the VAR decision while Hibs boss David Gray was coy over the controversy after watching his side clinch a 3-1 victory over United in the end.
Dundee United submit request to SFA after controversy vs Hibs
Now, it is being reported by the Daily Record that Dundee United have asked the SFA to share the VAR video and audio footage to see how the officials reached the handball call.
The Tannadice club have asked the SFA’s head of refereeing Willie Collum to come clean and provide clear proof of Dalby’s alleged offence.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 3 |  AberdeenAberdeen | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 36 | 44 | -8 | 41 |
| 4 |  HibernianHibernian | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 39 | 3 | 40 |
| 5 |  Dundee UtdDundee Utd | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 40 |
| 6 |  Heart Of MidlothianHeart Of Midlothian | 28 | 10 | 6 | 12 | 40 | 38 | 2 | 36 |
It was a pivotal point in the game as the goal would have put United 2-1 ahead in the second-half as both them and Hibs fight to secure 3rd spot in the Premiership come May.
With nine minutes added on at the end of the game – largely due to the VAR stoppage – Hibs went on to score two late goals to go level with United on 40 points in the table.
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin baffled by VAR overturn
As mentioned, United manager Goodwin was left incensed by the VAR decision to chalk off Dalby’s crucial goal.
He claims there is no ‘clear, obvious or decisive’ way in which MacDermid can overturn Dickinson’s initial awarding of the header.
The Arabs boss told the BBC post-match: “I need to be really careful with my choice of words, based on some of the big decisions that have went against us in such an important and significant game.
“There was so much at stake for both clubs. If we’d drawn the game it wouldn’t have been a disaster. It would have kept the gap between us and Hibs to three points.
“The second half we played for large spells in Hibs territory. We were pushing for a winner and we thought we’d scored a perfectly good goal.
“It takes three and a half, four minutes for the guys in the VAR studio to come to the decision that Sam Dalby has headed the ball onto his hand.
“From all the angles that I’ve seen with my analyst and from the broadcast angles, I can’t see it for the life of me.
“It’s just not clear, decisive and obvious. That’s a big decision that’s gone against us.