How VAR might have affected this season's Celtic-rangers title race

Scottish Premiership matches will be refereed by VAR from December this year – but what if the technology had been in place for the current campaign?

Here are five examples where VAR would have potentially affected the outcome of matches this season…

Dundee United 1 Rangers 1: Ross Graham shirt pull With Rangers pushing for a late winner on February 20, after Joe Aribo’s 76th-minute equaliser, United defender Ross Graham, who had earlier headed the home side in front, pulled back substitute Fashions aka lain side the six yard as the striker prepared to tap home from close range. Var would have shown it was a clear penalty and a red card for the centre-half, but it was missed by referee bobby madden as Rangers dropped two crucial points in the title race.

Hearts 2 Celtic 1: Liel Abada ‘offside’ goal Celtic did not have their troubles to seek in the early part of the campaign, but may have avoided defeat at Tynecastle on the opening day had VAR been in operation. With the scores level at 1-1, Liel Abada slotted home from close range only for the assistant referee’s flag to go up for an apparent offside against Greg Taylor, who had provided the cut-back. However, TV replays showed Taylor was played onside by Hearts defender Michael Smith and, with VAR, the goal would have stood and Celtic would have led 2-1. Instead,. they went on to lose by the same scoreline as Rangers stole an early march in the title race.

Aberdeen 1 Rangers 1: Allan Mcgregor ‘foul’ on Ryan Hedges With the January 18 match still goalless, Rangers goal keeper Allan Mcgregor raced out to the edge of his box and caught Aberdeen winger Ryan Hedges with his outstretched leg. Referee Kevin Clancy waved play on, but most observers agreed a penalty should have been awarded along with a possible red card for Mcgregor check would have likely picked upon. to rub salt in Aberdeen wounds,up the other end and scored. An incensed Stephen Glass said afterwards: “It’s an incident that has cost us probably winning the game .”

Celtic 1 Hearts 0: Kyogo controversial winner

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson left Celtic Park feeling hard done by on December 2 after losing out to Kyogo Furuhashi’s 33rd-minute strike, which TV replays later showed to be marginally off side. even crawford allan, the SFA’S head of referee as much in an interview in the aftermath of the game. “It’s one VAR could have helped with,” he said. It was a crucial moment in the season as Celtic's victory took them back to within four points of leaders rangers and five clear of Hearts in third.

St Johnstone 1 Livingston 0: Dan Cleary handball

David Martindale said Kevin Clancy could have cost the club £2 million after the official failed to award a penalty for handball against St Johnstone's Dan Cleary. The referee missed the secondhalf incident which might have seen the Almondvale side escape Perth with a draw rather than a 1-0 defeat in the penultimate match before the split. Afterwards, Martindale fumed: “It could be the difference between top six and bottom six – anything between £500,000 and £2m to the club.”