SPFL decide when controversial VAR duo behind Rangers decision are to return to duties
Yesterday at 02:00 PM
The two SFA officials behind the botched VAR decision that overshadowed the Premier Sports Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic will be back to work this week.
VAR Alan Muir and AVAR Frank Connor both failed to recognise a clear flour on Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny inside the Celtic box from defender Liam Scales.
John Beaton gave a foul outside the box in the incident but replays clearly showed that Cerny was inside the area with Rangers left incensed come full-time.
With Celtic going on to win the match 5-4 on penalties following a 3-3 draw at Hampden, head of refereeing Willie Collum branded the decision 'unacceptable' the following week.
Controversial referee duo recalled by SPFL
Whilst the SFA and SPFL would not confirm the repercussions handed down to both Alan Muir and Frank Connor, both missed the weekend's round of fixtures.
But their hiatus from officiating is already over with both official scheduled to take part in SPFL matches over the festive period.
Frank Connor will be assistant referee to Callum Scott when Kilmarnock host Aberdeen on Boxing Day.
The controversial referee will also be the assistant to Matthew McDermid when Celtic host St Johnstone on the 29th of December.
This is also when Alan Muir makes his return to officiating in Scotland, the official the VAR when St Mirren host Dundee.
SFA promise more 'accountability'
Despite the swift return to action for both referees, Willie Collum insists there will be more 'accountability' from the referees in Scotland.
Asked how the SPFL and SFA can move on from the call, which potentially cost Rangers the League Cup, Collum insists lessons will be learned.
The experienced Scottish referee also hinted that both Alan Muir and Frank Connor will be subject to internal disciplinary procedure.
"By firstly acknowledging that it's a really, really poor decision," said Collum when asked how the SFA will take accountability.
"It's an unacceptable decision. The VAR team know that, everybody in refereeing knows it. It's unacceptable.
"We will do our very, very best through our coaching, through our analysis to make sure an incident like this never happens again.
"It's a mistake, but it's a bad mistake.
"You talk about accountability. I was very open when I took up this role at the start of the season there would be accountability in refereeing.
"I told the media, I told the managers that we would deal with things internally, there would be accountability but we've been consistent with that throughout the season. I can assure people of that.
"I did say that if match officials find themselves not involved in future matches or we need to change the profile of a match for somebody, we won't come out and publicly say that.
"The way it happens that a manager doesn't come out and publicly talk about, you know, he's maybe taken a player out.
"We've also got a responsibility to protect the wider group of the referees, and we've also got a real responsibility to protect the match officials involved in this as well.
"What I am assuring you as I sit here today is there is accountability in refereeing but there's been accountability consistently since I've taken up post."
