Daily Mail: SPFL vow to pursue a sponsor for VAR in a bid to lower the annual cost

Story from Daily Mail:

The SFA are finalising plans to introduce Video Assistant Referees to the SPFL Premiership by the end of this month.

And, if late teething problems can be ironed out, the system could even be in place inside top-flight grounds in just two weeks’ time.

Initially scheduled to be introduced after the World Cup in Qatar, Scottish FA head of refereeing Crawford Allan confirmed plans to fast-track the technology at the governing body’s AGM.

A tentative proposal was mooted to have the system operational in time for the Friday night game between Hibs and St Johnstone on October 21.

Wary of going too soon, that date is now likely to be pushed back a week or so. However, with training of officials and trials now complete, the SFA will outline the current rate of progress at a press conference this week.

Speaking on the Get Involved Referee podcast, former category-one official Des Roache said: ‘They have been dry-running it, which is the correct thing to do and, if it’s ready, why wait until after the World Cup? Let’s go now. It’s not often we say well done the SFA but, if they have everything in place now, that’s good.’

The total cost of VAR will come to £1.2million per season and will be met by 12 Premiership clubs - with the amount of payment depending on where they finish in the league. On a sliding scale, the champions will pay £195,751, the runners-up £140,234 and the teams in positions 11 and 12 £67,594.

The Hawk-Eye Innovations System used in the English top flight will be used in the 12 Premiership grounds.

Driven by Celtic and Rangers, VAR training for referees has been carried out by the SFA, with the governing body footing the training costs.

The Scottish system will be run on the principle of ‘minimum interference, maximum benefit’ and will deal with situations where a referee makes an obvious or serious error.

All video assistant referees will be current or recently-retired category-one officials, aided by a minimum of six manned cameras at each game.