VAR’s reach in Scottish football is set to grow significantly ahead of the new season, following ratification of updated laws approved at the IFAB annual general meeting in Wales.
The expanded protocol will see VAR introduced as a tool for reviewing second yellow cards and incorrectly awarded corners, marking a notable shift in how the technology is used.
One of the most significant changes allows VAR to intervene when a second yellow card has been factually and incorrectly awarded during the course of a match.
Similarly, the protocol now covers situations where a yellow card has been issued to the wrong player or the wrong team, correcting errors that have previously gone unchallenged.
However, there is an important distinction to note regarding second yellow cards, as VAR will only act to overturn incorrect dismissals rather than prompting referees to issue cards that were not shown on the field.
The expansion of corner-kick reviews has also been approved, though this element of the updated laws is optional rather than mandatory for competitions choosing to adopt the VAR system.
That means Scottish football’s governing bodies will have the choice over whether to incorporate corner checks into their own VAR protocol when implementing the new framework.
The IFAB meeting in Wales also produced a wider package of measures specifically designed to combat deliberate time-wasting tactics that have frustrated fans and officials alike in recent seasons.
Referees will now have the authority to begin a five-second countdown when they believe a player is taking too long over a throw-in or a dead-ball goal kick.
Substitutions will also face stricter time limits, with the entire process required to be completed within ten seconds, or the substitute must remain off the field of play for a minimum of one minute.
The changes reflect a broader push from football’s lawmakers to protect the tempo and flow of matches at all levels of the game.
Scottish football enters the new season with these reforms already ratified, though certain optional measures may not be immediately adopted across all competitions in the SPFL.
The rollout of these expanded VAR powers follows their wider trial and introduction through the World Cup cycle, lending additional weight to the changes being implemented domestically.
Clubs and officials north of the border will now be expected to familiarise themselves with the updated laws before competitive action gets underway later this year.
