Dundee Utd refuse to take part in VAR review panel

Dundee United say they will refuse to supply a representative to sit on the Scottish FA’s video assistant referee review panel due to a lack of trust in the process.

A five-person rotating panel – known as the Key Match Incident Panel- made up of a mix of club personnel, former referees, players, and coaches review VAR calls on a weekly basis.

United say they will now not participate in the process after raising concerns about the panel’s “purpose, effectiveness, and impact on Scottish football”.

The Scottish Premiership club believe feedback provided by the SFA’s refereeing department and its head Willie Collum is inconsistent with some of the panels’ verdicts.

It added some decisions “appear to be based on the opinions of panel members who, for the most part, lack significant expertise in the laws of the game.”

The club claim the result of what it sees as erroneous verdicts from the panel puts pressure on referees to change their decision making.

“We believe changes should be made to the KMI panel or an alternative, more robust process should be used for reviewing refereeing decisions if deemed a requirement,” United added.

United manager Jim Goodwin was unhappy Marley Watkins’ winner for Kilmarnock was allowed to stand on Saturday, despite suggestions there was a foul on goalkeeper Jack Walton.

In stoppage time, there was also a potential penalty for handball against Kilmarnock defender Robbie Deas which was not given, which United were also unhappy with.

United say they have also told the SFA they feel VAR continues to lead to “inconsistent interpretations” of the laws of the game.

St Mirren also contacted the SFA at the weekend after a call not to award a penalty for a foul on Elvis Bwomono in their 1-0 defeat by St Johnstone.

The Daily Record reported, external the Paisley club want to see the VAR process managed by an independent body rather than the SFA.