Trial of VAR involving Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts and Hibs scuppered by coronavirus

Scottish Cup semi-finals were due to be used for technology

The Scottish Cup tie between Hearts and Hibs had been earmarked for a VAR trial.

A trial run of VAR in Scottish football involving Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts and Hibs was scuppered by the coronavirus lockdown.

Scottish Football Association head of referees Crawford Allan has revealed that the Scottish Cup semi-finals that were to have been staged this weekend had been earmarked as an opportunity to test the VAR set-up in Hampden ahead the Euro 2020 games at the national stadium, before the global pandemic led to the tournament being delayed until June 2021.

Allan said: “[Because] the technology was due to be installed at Hampden Park for Euro 2020, we had some detailed discussions on whether we could have used the opportunity to have some live testing during the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals or finals. Unfortunately the postponement of the Euro finals for 12 months has removed that possibility, but I remain optimistic that we will have VAR before long.”

However, Allan considers that the potential for VAR to become a feature of the Scottish game in the short term may have been diminished because of the financial fall-out from the current health emergency.

“There are financial implications and ongoing year-on-year costs for VAR,” he said in a Q&A with the SFA. “With the recent downturn in the economy and income to football in general, this may have an impact on the viability of VAR in the short term and the timing of its potential introduction to Scotland. I am in favour of its introduction and I know a lot of the Premiership clubs have come out in favour of it, so it may be a matter of timing.

“VAR was being analysed in some detail prior to lockdown and we have been talking to suppliers and obtaining costs. We have also been talking to a number of other countries across Europe to learn from them: consistently it takes between six to nine months to fully implement VAR and the required infrastructure, and to train all relevant stakeholder groups from referees, to clubs, to media and spectators.

“I see it more as an investment in optimising correct decision making, for referees and the game, but I understand there are far more important matters that we are contending with at present.”