SFA planning major VAR change

Plans are in place to introduce VAR ahead of the November World Cup break. 

Four years after the technology was introduced in the EPL and other major European leagues the Scottish game is finally set to get on board. 

Financing the scheme was agreed at the end of last season with a sliding scale that sees the SPFL champions pay out much more than the club that finishes 12th in the Premiership for the same technology. 

Just six sets of cameras need to be purchased but setting them up, training officials and creating the right infrastructure has added to the costs. 

VAR is scheduled to come into use over the weekend of December 17 following a five week break for the World Cup Finals but according to The Sun that timeline could be brought forward: 

SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell claimed last month that his own preference would be to bring it in “as soon as we possibly could do it”. 

And SunSport understands clubs are now aware of plans to speed up the introduction of VAR several weeks ahead of schedule. 

Refs’ chief Crawford Allan is believed to have addressed the issue of fast-tracking at yesterday’s SPFL annual general meeting. 

There are still major logistical issues which will prevent the technology from being ready for the big kick off a week on Saturday. 

Hampden bosses are keen that big screens – and monitors for broadcast partners – are in place to allow VAR decisions to be communicated as they take place. 

They are determined that supporters in the grounds and fans listening or watching at home are aware of the decision-making process as it happens. 

It’s understood it will still take a number of weeks before all 12 top-flight clubs have the necessary kit in place within their grounds. 

But there is a collective will in place, led by the SFA, to speed up the introduction and it now looks certain to begin weeks before the league is halted for the Qatar kick-off in November. 

There has been no comment from the SFA about the number of VAR trained match officials they have. With refereeing a part-time occupation being VAR trained gives officials the chance to increase their income through watching matches on a screen. 

Celtic are at home to Ross County on November 12 with their next SPFL match on December 17 away to Aberdeen.