The latest VAR review show delivered by the SFA has been published as Willie Collum pores over incidents across December in the Premiership.
In this edition, the SFA’s head of refereeing Collum admits to two VAR errors – a challenge during Hearts’ draw with Aberdeen and a tackle made during Dundee United’s win over St Mirren.
During Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen at the start of the month, VAR had a look at Jack Milne’s challenge on Beni Baningime after referee Kevin Clancy deemed it not even worthy of a free-kick for Hearts.
The VAR team did not deem the challenge dangerous enough to recommend an on-field review for a red card and Clancy’s original on-field decision stood.
The KMI panel then ruled that Clancy should have awarded a red card on the pitch or at the very least, VAR should have intervened and recommended an on-field review.
Jack Milne’s Aberdeen challenge on Hearts star Beni Baningime
Collum has now agreed with the KMI panel’s ruling. He said: “We analysed this with the referees during their coaching sessions. Quite a number of the referees thought red card, there was also an amount of referees who thought yellow card.
“We were probably about 60/40 in favour of red here. But we also take into account what the KMI panel said here and the KMI panel said here 4:1 that this was a red card.
“That’s the kind of decision that supports us via the KMI, that’s where we’ll listen to the voice of the KMI. It’s not something that is impossible for us to disagree on. And we now would prefer a red card for this decision.
“Couple of elements here that the referee and the VAR need to consider. The player stretching for the ball here, that’s where it’s most likely that these kind of tackles occur.
“There is a buckle of the ankle, there is a bend of the ankle. So we would much prefer here an on-field review to recommend a red card for serious foul play.
“There was no foul awarded here. If the referee awarded a foul and gave a yellow card, the VAR then go into a check and think, ‘is there elements to support a yellow here?’
“And probably at the time, you would say yes. On reflection, we would prefer a red obviously. But the fact it’s a missed incident allows even more of an opportunity for the VAR to go into that check.
“They don’t need to think if the referee is giving yellow. There was more scope here to bring the referee to the monitor to award a red card.
“For us moving forward for this challenge, we expect a red card to be given on-field. If missed on-field, an on-field review to recommend a red card for serious foul play.”
Jack Walton’s Dundee United tackle on St Mirren star Toyosi Olusanya
Collum also reviewed the VAR process concerning Dundee United goalkeeper Jack Walton’s high tackle on St Mirren forward Toyosi Olusanya.
Referee Matthew MacDermid issued Walton with a yellow card and VAR did not recommend an on-field review for a possible red card.
Collum has now said the decision was wrong. He confessed: “This is definitely not denying a goal-scoring opportunity, definitely not. But it is serious foul play.
“The height is important here, the goalkeeper catches the St Mirren player very high. We also think there is speed and intensity, and for us it meets the criteria for endangering the safety of an opponent.
“And this should have been an on-field review to recommend a red card for serious foul play.”