SPFL set to delay introduction of VAR for at least a year

SPFL clubs will vote on VAR in February then delay installation for almost a year.

As soon as VAR was used at the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia it was introduced in the EPL where goal-line technology has been in use since 2013.

While countries such Cyprus have VAR in use in domestic matches Scotland has been very slow on the uptake despite having more high profile clubs and fixtures than anything on offer in the Mediterranean island.

VAR has been in use at Celtic Park and Ibrox this season in Europa League matches and was used at Hampden for four games during the European Championships.

During this month’s World Cup qualifiers Scotland benefitted from a couple of VAR decisions going in their favour but it seems that the wheels of change are moving very slowly for domestic fixtures.

In the Daily Mail, Stephen McGowan reports:

The SPFL are set to offer Scotland’s top clubs a vote on the introduction of VAR before the end of February.

Meetings next month will offer assurance to clubs in League One and League Two that the estimated annual costs of £60,000 each per annum will be wholly met by top flight clubs.

And with the biggest clubs strongly in favour of adopting the system, a formal resolution is likely to be put before clubs early in the New Year — with video technology now on course to be installed in the Scottish Premiership after next year’s World Cup finals in Qatar.

With other nations using VAR on a weekly basis Scottish referees are falling down the pecking order for UEFA fixtures with none selected for the 2021 European Championships.

The Qatar World Cup will run from the 21st of November to December 18, 2022.