The VAR Review is a brand new monthly show that gives Scottish football fans a behind the scenes look at some of the big decisions made across the game – whether they are right or whether they are wrong – and how those decisions are reached. Get unique insight through the use of VAR and referee audio.
Host Gordon Duncan is joined by Head of Refereeing, Willie Collum, for the first show, which looks back at the opening of the 2024 season, up until the September international break.
00:00 – Show Introduction
01:24 – Celtic v Hibernian
04:02 – Celtic v Kilmarnock
07:06 – Heart of Midlothian v Rangers
10:42 – Dundee United v Dundee
12:59 – Rangers v St Johnstone (Premier Sports Cup)
19:34 – Rangers v Ross County
22:57 – Kilmarnock v St Johnstone
27:33 – Aberdeen v Kilmarnock
32:30 – Show Outro
© The Scottish Football Association 2024
This video is copyrighted by the Scottish FA and must not be republished either in its entirety and/or clips without the prior written consent of the Scottish FA.
49 Comments
Willie speaks really well.
I like much of this but wonder why in the 1st incident examined, the only contact looked at was the contact between James Forrest and the Hibs defender to his left. No mention was made of the contact which caused Forrest to go to ground. This contact was from the player on Forrest's right. As they run, the Hibs player's left foot lands in front of Forrest's right foot. This causes the trip which brings Forrest to ground. It might be decided that this was inconsequential contact but we don't know. Come on WC. Time to up your game. If you are going to microscopically examine an incident, then examine the entire incident. I urge everyone (including WC) to look at the footage again and then ask why this aspect of the incident was ignored. Did they not see it? Was it not significant? If they want to provide clarity, then they need examine and comment on all aspects of these incidents, otherwise this show, which could provide a valuable service to fans, will be seen as mere window dressing and PR for VAR and the SFA.
Very interesting and all involved trying to get the big decisions correct. Well done SFA for having the guts to release this video.
Video Assisting Rangers
Far too much ‘searching’ for any reason to chalk of wonder goals, where ‘marginal’ offside and benefit to defender, not attacker as rulebook states. Scotland league VAR should enhance game, not so clearly undermine it.
The kyogo one was 100% a penalty but… he was offside
Another VAR intervention needed when it concerns Rangers & goals. It's funny how it's always against the smaller teams, …
Scotland is leading the line with this one. This can only be a good thing. Well done, Willie. Willie with balls 👏👏🤝
Ultimately, the decision still stands, and potentially points lost. There needs to be action taken against officials who continually make wrong calls.
Embarrassing mistakes
Roofe disallowed old firm goal last season , Johnston punches the ball out of play in old firm game nothing given , rangers player gets pushed into hart at parkhead celtic get decision , yip rangers get everything don’t they 👆🏻👆🏻
For the idiots that think kyogo is off side there are two Kilmarnock players behind the four man wall
A show like this is desperately needed in England
Novella Trace
love the fact Wullie is doing this show, now ref's if they do have team bias they will think twice because now they will be outed
Very informative, still dont agree with a ref telling a player not to tackle tho
Outstanding! Well done Mr Collum! Possibly the biggest advancement in Scottish refereeing ever. Could have done with this pre VAR. Detailed explanations, accountability and the honesty and integrity to admit when they might have got things wrong! This is a game changer!
Tbh this is the most refreshing thing since faddys goal
What about the rest of Scotland 😡
Respect to Willie for doing this. It's refreshing.
👍🏻👍🏻
We've probably asked for decades why referees are never interviewed or asked to explain decisions. Good to finally have a link between the refs and the fans.
Also questioned Collum's appointment but on reflection reckon Collum is probably the right guy. Actually speaks very well and a top referee for several years but fair to say definitely made plenty of errors himself so knows the impact of shockers and likely has the know-how on coaching to avoid mistakes.
Having watched i generally agree with the decisions but really didnt like how the Killie/Aberdeen VAR was handled. VAR tells the ref: "Nick when you get there you are going to see…" which is giving the ref pre-conceived ideas and a clear opinion on what he will see which could definitely sway a decision. VAR discussion should be muted and "we recommend an on-field review" the last thing that the referee hears so that he can make his own mind up based on the evidence. Perhaps if the ref gets there and sees nothing then they can ask why a review was recommended but the wording of VAR to the official is definitely leading them towards a decision when they haven't even yet seen a replay. For me explains why the monitor checks have ended up in a significant decision in all but about one that I can remember. Sure, maybe merited in a lot of cases but we basically always know the outcome.
Also see no reason we can't rescind yellow cards given to players following an error (and i get that he explains it but rule seems backward). Armstrong was fouled (and I actually think he knew what he was doing and dived when he was in the box so probably deserved it). However, given that there was a foul outside it maybe was due to his momentum and if we're explaining that yes he was fouled but we can't get involved or that there's been an error then surely they can undo the yellow card. We wouldn't send a goalkeeper off for a last man (red card) offence if it was committed following an offside and fail to really see the difference here.
Tom Lawrence being advised not to tackle was also bizarre. Will be interesting to see if there is more of this in future clips as I'd have thought that it was a coach or manager's job and also almost reads like 'don't give me an adverse decision to make against you' if he goes in with a shocker.
APP, 2angers player fouls counter attack and allows 2angers to score from their foul. got it, should have been overturned there and then, clear to see.
Until the refs declare the team they support there will always be bias.
Unconscious bias is prevalent when dealing with instantaneous, quick, under pressure decision making. Only way to mitigate is to remove all parties who have a fist in the fight.
Mental that Albian Ajeti is doing the VAR review show
Why are they speaking to 'consultants' and managers to figure out 'where they want to be' on the handball rules? FIFA makes the rules. Talk to FIFA. This rundown is a great initiative though.
And why are they resetting the APP right after Rangers win the ball back against Ross County? There no new phase of attack unless you count the transition from Ross County to Rangers as a new phase, in which case, it started with a foul. That's braindead, in my opinion.
That was really, really interesting. Should be essential viewing for fans of any club.
That’s Hibs striker Bowie out for the rest of the season because some arshole decided to play him twice for 90 minutes for Scotland u21 ‘s in 3 days although Hibs were nursing him back to fitness after hamstring injury . This is unacceptable SFA. STATEMENT PLEASE
That var for forrest was utterly embarrassing all shouting over each other no one listening to anyone clowns, Var for kyogo no penalty should be banned blatant cheating all this is doing is confirming it
About time ✅
HUnbelievable
Brilliant from Willie and the SFA. Well done.
This is great to see. Getting both sides of the story, explanations and transparency will only improve things. Now we need the rules changed so that VAR can check 2nd yellow card fouls resulting on a player being sent off. Why should VAR not be used to check such a game changing decision to send a man off.
Yep, great idea this. Everyone has said for decades that refs need to come out and explain why they made x/y/z decisions. While I understand why they don't, this is the next best thing…..perhaps even better. Ultimately though, you'd hope that the amount of times WC is telling us the ref made a wrong call doesn't increase!
When are you gonna start penalising diving then. If VAR rules out a foul it surely exposes diving too?
No bad, but they need someone to represent the paying fans views and not just the corporate narrative. Also it seems like they're using the same quality camera and audio equipment for the podcast as they do for var! You turn up the sound to hear them properly, the adverts come on blast your ears off and look way better quality.
Kyogo was offside before ball was played
Yellow card given for simulation is for diving IN the box so VAR is in play regardless of where the intinial contact is
Thompson Christopher Anderson James Clark Sandra
Have to applaud the SFA on this one, great to see us paving the way with initiatives like this one. As fans, I think all we ask for is transparency like this so we can understand how decisions are reached and it will only help some people understand the actual laws of the game (although they'll probably still try arguing that they know better than the officials 🙄)
Also, I've never seen Willie NOT angry, he's so calm in this show when he's usually on par with Hells Kitchen Gordon Ramsay 🤣
while it's great to see them sharing this and admitting the errors, I'm sure a lot of people would like to hear how they got it so wrong on the day. What is it they thought they saw, or did they not understand the rules or the game.
Kunde Points
this is brilliant..well done willie.. handball ?? any and every handball is a foul/penalty… "SORTED"!!!!………………….. again brilliant , well done all involved…..
Copying the EPL again never have any of our own original ideas
Martin William Lee Linda Robinson Amy
The standard of refereeing in the SPL is shocking. No Scottish ref's in Europe or international level & none coming close to be selected. We should use referee's from abroad.
This is great transparency, thanks for doing this and thanks willie!