The VAR Review | December 2024

The VAR Review is a 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 latest show, which looks back at matches in November and December 2024.

00:00 – Show Introduction
00:25 – Celtic v Rangers (Premier Sports Cup Final)
06:20 – Kilmarnock v Heart of Midlothian
09:06 – St Mirren v Aberdeen
13:09 – Dundee United v St Mirren
18:23 – St Johnstone v Rangers
22:17 – Heart of Midlothian v Aberdeen
25:19 – 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.

[johnstevenson]

This is such a good process, well done Willie Collum and the SFA for being so upfront.

[Scottish-eagle]

Well impressed by Willie Collum’s start as head of referees
Was expecting the same cover ups like before but this transparency is honest and great.
Aberdeen fan here and it shows Willie is trying to improve things
Well done

[malky]

After watching this VAR review for the first time, I think it's a cracking idea.
While it doesn't change past decisions, it offers transparency into the process, at least we can see Scottish football is actively working on improving refereeing standards.

[sheenodj]

St Mirren fan here. If that’s us not getting a pan in the cup final, I’m wanting a replay. Absolute shocker of a decision.

[Gers]

When he says 'more outside' he really means ' some inside' but that would result in hem having to acknowledge his instant preferred decision would need to be looked at and 'considered' rather than dismissed. Obvious bias in an easy decision.

[oliveryoung]

Should be the end of Alan Muir. The concerning aspect of it is the fact he’s a full time VAR official.

Just sack him and be done with it. You cannot be getting these decisions wrong in a cup final.

[frasermunro]

That was excellent. My opinion of Collum has greatly increased . Informative and insightful. Most (90%) of all comments re hampden were inaccurate

[shaynemacdonald]

Ridiculous decision no matter what team you support.

[jeahboy]

Why did the VAR audio sound like a couple of Neds with a bottle of Buckfast sitting in the house commenting on the game..??

[sec]

That's even worse than you could imagine. The haste at which they instantly dismissed that with the pictures right there in front of them is damming. Their positions are absolutely untenable.

[ABkingseleven]

The audio is a disgrace. You can hear the clear panic in Muir 's voice when he thought he might have to give a penalty to Rangers. He then turns himself inside out by virtually screaming 'more out than in' which means that it was inside the box at some time. Then his mate rushes to accept it and declares it as final. This is the definition of bias and corruption. There needs to be a full investigation, and both these officials should never work in any refereeing capacity again.

[bluejoe]

As a Rangers fan raging at the decision but fair play to Wullie for being honest and coming clean

[TheBromptonGuy]

These are so good and appreciate it can't be easy for the SFA to come out and hold their hands up but very much love the open honesty and obviously understand human mistakes can be made. Thanks for these reviews

[Ekbear]

The vast difference between the length of time every check apart from the cup final check is concerning, every other decision has the time taken to look at every angle, but aye he’s mostly outside all good John is utterly embarrassing

[roolaing]

All voices said “outside” immediately on first viewing, no problem, but then felt incapable of taking their time and having a conversation, much less the “correct conclusion”.

It was like a weird, rushed, peer pressure.

Important to take your time with VAR. otherwise there’s no point. It’s “not a difficult decision”, so we should take time to get it right moving forward.

[james.butler.]

Audio sounds like a bunch of guys shouting in a pub. Zero professionalism.

[paulgear]

Well done Wullie, very honest and open review

[andym]

So there was only one incident in the cup game.

[Jake-jgh]

If you commit this level of incompetence in your job and your company is now under scrutiny you get your jotters simple

[alanrobertson]

I think this process is a great step in the right direction. If we could have a weekly review podcast, it would enable more incidents to be reviewed and give more time to discuss incidents in as much detail as required. 👍👏