Willie Collum first ref in VAR hot seat for Hibs vs St Johnstone technology rollout

Willie Collum will become Scottish football’s first VAR when the system makes its debut north of the border on Friday night.

The experienced ref has been appointed by the SFA to take charge of the technology in Clydesdale House when Hibs take on St Johnstone in a crunch Premiership clash at Easter Road. Collum will be assisted by Graeme Stewart and will be charged with reviewing any key decisions which on-field referee Kevin Clancy may have got wrong.

Steven McLean has been appointed as VAR for Celtic’s lunchtime clash at Hearts on Saturday, assisted by David McGeachie, while Greg Aitken will take the controls when Rangers host Livingston later that afternoon with Alan Mulvanny assisting. Elsewhere on Saturday, Andrew Dallas and Jonathan Bell will be the video assistants for Motherwell v Aberdeen, Don Robertson and Daniel MacFarlane for Kilmarnock’s clash with Ross County and Alan Muir assisted by John McCrossan at St Mirren v Dundee United.

Collum spoke last week about the importance of VAR in helping reduce the number of controversial calls in the top flight. He said: “My honest opinion is this is about benefiting us in Scotland. It’s to avoid the controversy here. That’s the biggest thing - to ensure we aren’t the headline any more.

“The biggest thing for us is that we’ll get another opportunity to see things. That will be a Godsend for all of us — that opportunity to have a safety net and know that, if I make an error, then I’ve got the chance to see it again.

“I won’t be worrying about what Sportscene will show on Saturday night or what someone will text you. I’ll get the chance to see it there and then. But the key principle is the same: the referee MUST try to get the decision right on the field.

“As a