VAR in Scottish football: Update given on start date and 'education' required

Scottish Football Association chief executive Ian Maxwell believes "education" will be key to ensuring VAR runs smoothly when it is implemented in Scottish football later this year.

SPFL clubs voted in April for the introduction of the video technology to the cinch Premiership, and it remains "on course" to be rolled out in Scotland's top flight immediately after the World Cup in December.

Maxwell is excited about bringing it into the Scottish game, but he feels its success will be reliant on making sure everyone involved has a full grasp of how it works to minimise confusion and disputes relating to its use.

"From a national association perspective in terms of referee retention, referee recruitment, VAR is vital from that perspective," said Maxwell, speaking ahead of the SFA's annual general meeting. "Obviously it helps the referees during match-days.

"We've gone through a huge amount of work. (Head of referee operations) Crawford Allan and the referee operations team have worked really hard with the match officials to make sure their training is all going to plan, and it is.

"We are on course for the start date we previously publicised. There is a sign-off process to go through with FIFA. They have a set-out and established protocol that we need to conform to. They will come over and check everything we are doing is appropriate, and it will be.

"One of the biggest elements round about VAR is going to be the education of fans, players, managers and broadcasters so people understand why we use it and when we use it.

"It's not a panacea. It's not going to eradicate every wrong corner or every wrong throw-in in the game. It only deals with the significant issues and it's important that everybody understands exactly what