SFA Panel Rules Key VAR Calls Wrong in Rangers–Hearts, Celtic and Hibs Matches
The findings spotlight inconsistent VAR standards around handball.
Overview
- The KMI panel unanimously ruled Lawrence Shankland’s opener for Hearts at Ibrox should have been disallowed for handball and said VAR should have recommended an on‑field review.
- By a 2–1 majority, the panel found Rangers’ disallowed second‑half equaliser should have stood and that VAR should have intervened to prompt a review.
- A 2–1 majority concluded Celtic’s stoppage‑time penalty at Kilmarnock for handball should not have been awarded, judging the VAR intervention to be incorrect.
- In a 2–1 decision, the panel said Hibernian’s late penalty against Dundee United was wrongly given after review, with Vicko Sevelj’s resulting red card later overturned on appeal.
- The panel unanimously backed Yan Dhanda’s red card for Dundee against Motherwell and noted the failed appeal, while reaffirming that these post‑match rulings do not change match results.