The SFA have moved to clarify VAR’s decision not to rule out Joe Newell’s goal for Hibs against Celtic.
It was a highly controversial afternoon at Easter Road, where Martin O’Neill’s side eventually claimed a crucial three points in the Scottish Premiership title race, but not without major debate over key decisions.
The flashpoint came after Jamie McGrath was initially booked by referee David Dickinson. Don Robertson, operating from the VAR room, then intervened and instructed the referee to go to the pitchside monitor after reviewing the challenge on Alistair Johnston.
That review resulted in the booking being upgraded to a red card, and from there the game swung in momentum.
Daizen Maeda later put the visitors in front, before Robertson and the Clydesdale House VAR team were once again under the spotlight when Joe Newell restored parity just before half-time.
There were immediate claims from Celtic players that the ball had struck Newell’s arm in the build-up to the goal, raising questions over whether it should have stood.
However, after a VAR review of the incident, the goal was ultimately allowed to stand.
The SFA later issued an explanation to Sky Sports regarding the decision, stating there was “insufficient evidence of a handball to overturn the on-field decision.”
The explanation has since added further fuel to the debate, with the interpretation of what constitutes a clear intervention threshold once again coming under scrutiny.
Pundit James McFadden responded by highlighting the standard required for VAR to step in and overturn a decision on factual grounds, stressing the need for absolute certainty in such moments.
He said: “It only takes one person in there to say ‘I don’t think it does’ – it has to be 100 per cent.
“If they look at it and think it is a handball it’s overturned – because it’s factual. If you think it might be, then that’s re-refereeing and that’s not what it was brought in for.”