The VAR Review | September 2024

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.

[jimbo_]

I've never been a supporter of VAR, but this is a great development and goes a long way to addressing concerns by providing much needed transparency.

[michael]

Cannae complain at this can you?
Might not agree with everything but this sort of transparency can only help in the long run.
Good idea this, Willie.

[qmj]

BBC tried this and I can't remember who the ref was, but it was just him saying why the refs got everything right to the point I was excited to see which new excuses were coming for terrible decisions. It was useless. This was much better and more transparent. The audio helps and and talking about the process as well as the decision and how it's reached is gonna be much more useful for fans as it goes on. Good work.

[derekt]

This kind of transparency is great. Actually being able to go through and listen to what var is doing in terms of processing and analysis; and their communication with the referee is genuinely interesting and a positive footing for Scottish football/refereeing

[OneForTheNorth]

Andrew Dallas had to become a full time VAR referee, he said this was due to a hip injury but it wasn’t the case. Andrew is a director within the JR Group who are Rangers club business partners and the entirety of their senior and C suite staff are Rangers fans. Dallas is a Rangers supporter also. Having him on VAR duties for Celtic or Rangers games is negligible.

Well done to Willie for putting himself in the firing line and giving us transparency where possible. Positive move

[MartinJB]

Never thought I’d see the day I’d be giving praise to Willie collum but this is a great initiative. Great to see they’ve committed to producing this monthly

[bonusbertie]

Never thought I would utter these words but a huge well done to the sfa and Willie Collum. Dragged Scotland into the 21st Century, nice 👏👏👏

[Gillspie]

At last... The Scottish FA and Referees are now openly providing some transparency and conclusions on some of these crazy mad VAR decisions so fair play to them! 👏

[CelticBraveheart]

A brilliant idea, and Wullie came across as very fair and clear in his explanation of each incident. This should be on TV as well for everyone to see.

[Mr-Brazza]

Scotland is leading the line with this one. This can only be a good thing. Well done, Willie. Willie with balls 👏👏🤝

[Col]

Why is the referee advising Tom Lawrence NOT to make that tackle ?
That is cheating, he then shouts "he's played the ball" twice....what ball, the one on the moon ?
That referee was fully at it there .

[AlbaReviews]

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!

[andrewh]

Great to have accountability and an explanation of decisions taken. This has been badly needed.

[Andyll]

Respect to Willie for doing this. It's refreshing.

[rmedh]

Well done Willie Collum! Great initiative. Let's hope it continues for the full season.

[intheheatoflisbon]

He's doing a great job bringing the decisions closer to the fans between videos like this and the SSB as well, was never a fan of his as a Celtic fan but in this new roles he's been the best development in refereeing in Scottish football in my 33 years

[gothenburg]

Brilliant from Willie and the SFA. Well done.

[JoshAston]

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 🙄)

[BoxxerCore]

A ref advising players when to tackle like a coach and then wrongly backing the player and the tackle. A ref shouldn't be interfering in this way.

[frankie-ckxz]

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