March 13 – The Scottish FA is to meet Scottish Premier League officials to discuss whether to implement video assistant referees.
The International Football Association Board “unanimously approved” the introduction of VARs on a permanent basis after a meeting in Zurich on Saturday.
The SFA failed to make the meeting because of travel issues but voted in absentia for implementation.
“It is something we would be happy to embrace and support if there was a widespread appetite from our member clubs to do so and if it proved affordable to implement,” said the SFA.
A statement continued: “Our decision to vote in favour of VAR was not taken lightly, but after lengthy research are confident it is a move that is in the best interests of the game.”
Video assistant referees are set to be used at this year’s World Cup in Russia with the move to be rubber-stamped at Friday’s latest FIFA Council meeting in Bogata.
Scottish FA president Alan McRae said: “As a founding member of IFAB, we support the decision to endorse VAR and are proud to have played our part in a move that we feel is a significant step for football. The challenge now is to establish if and how we should look to accommodate it within the Scottish game.
“There must now be a wider conversation between those of us at the Scottish FA, the SPFL and member clubs, which take into account any financial outlay and modifications to existing facilities that would have to be made before we can make a call on VAR’s current suitability for the game in this country.”
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