SFA and Premier League VAR Panels Address Controversial Decisions

SFA referees chief Willie Collum acknowledged that Sam Dalby’s disallowed goal for Dundee United against Hibs should have stood, admitting there was insufficient evidence to overturn the initial on-field decision. In contrast, Manchester United faced a controversial VAR decision that awarded Real Sociedad a penalty for a handball by Bruno Fernandes, despite the initial referee's decision not to penalize. The Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel supported VAR's call to cancel Everton's stoppage-time penalty against Manchester United, concluding that the referee's original decision was incorrect. This panel was created to provide unbiased assessments of major refereeing decisions and concluded that the contact did not warrant a penalty. Meanwhile, a VAR check during Aston Villa's match confirmed a penalty for a foul on Matty Cash, ensuring the ball was in play prior to the incident. These incidents highlight ongoing debates over the effectiveness and consistency of VAR in football.