Scottish FA Review Panel Highlights VAR Controversies in Recent Matches
The Scottish FA's review panel has identified significant errors in recent VAR decisions, including a legitimate goal denied to Rangers, a potential disallowed goal for Hearts, and incorrect penalties awarded to both Celtic and Hibernian last weekend.
The panel, composed of former players, coaches, media representatives, and officials from the Scottish FA and various clubs, released their latest evaluation of VAR decisions in the Scottish Premiership on Friday.
In the context of Hearts' 2-0 victory over Rangers at Ibrox, the panel unanimously concluded that VAR should have intervened to prompt referee Steven McLean to review a handball by Lawrence Shankland, which preceded Hearts' opening goal. Additionally, they asserted that VAR should have advised McLean against disallowing Derek Cornelius' goal due to an alleged foul on goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow.
This outcome has intensified scrutiny on Rangers head coach Russell Martin, as the defeat added pressure on his position.
Hearts' victory allowed them to move three points ahead of Celtic; however, the reigning champions equalized the following day, thanks to a late penalty converted by Kelechi Iheanacho against Kilmarnock.
Initially, referee John Beaton did not award a penalty when the ball struck defender Lewis Mayo's arm in the sixth minute of stoppage time, but he reversed his decision after consulting the VAR monitor. The review panel, however, deemed that Beaton's original decision was indeed correct.
In another match, a majority of the panel members believed that Hibernian should not have been granted a penalty that allowed Jamie McGrath to secure a 3-3 draw against Dundee United. Referee Dan McFarlane initially opted against awarding a penalty, but changed his ruling following a VAR intervention, which also resulted in the sending off of United's Vicko Sevelj for handball.
Dundee United later successfully appealed Sevelj's red card at a fast-track tribunal on Tuesday.