The latest Key Match Incident (KMI) panel convened by the Scottish Football Association has identified two VAR errors in recent Scottish Premiership fixtures.
The panel reviewed 17 incidents from matches played between February 18 and 22, including major flashpoints from Celtic’s clash with Hibernian and Rangers’ encounter with Livingston.
In Celtic’s 2-1 defeat to Hibernian, defender Auston Trusty was sent off for violent conduct following an altercation with Jamie McGrath at a corner. Referee Matthew MacDermid issued the red card after a VAR intervention from Grant Irvine. Celtic appealed the decision, but it was dismissed by an SFA fast-track tribunal, with the KMI panel unanimously agreeing that the officials reached the correct outcome.
There was, however, split opinion regarding a potential penalty for Celtic when Liam Scales appeared to be pulled by Jack Iredale at 1-1. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill questioned the decision post-match. Two of the three panel members agreed with the on-field call not to award a penalty, while one believed VAR should have intervened.
Attention also turned to Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Livingston. In stoppage time, Rangers forward Mikey Moore was challenged by Cammy Kerr as he attempted to shoot. Although replays showed contact beginning outside the box and continuing inside, referee Ryan Lee waved play on and VAR David Dickinson did not step in. The KMI panel unanimously agreed that not awarding a penalty was correct.
However, the panel ruled that VAR made an error by failing to recommend a red card for Kerr for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Earlier in the match, Livingston’s Cristian Montano was shown a red card for a late challenge on Djeidi Gassama, and that decision was unanimously upheld.
In another case, St Mirren successfully appealed Richard King’s red card in their 5-0 defeat to Motherwell. The KMI panel unanimously agreed that referee Callum Scott made an error and that VAR should have intervened to overturn the dismissal.
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