John Beaton Calls Martindale to Apologize After SFA Rules Rangers–Livingston Penalty Was Missed

Overview

• Livingston manager David Martindale said VAR official John Beaton phoned to admit a mistake over not sending the referee to review a handball during the 2-1 defeat to Rangers.
• The SFA’s Key Match Incident panel unanimously ruled a penalty should have been awarded for Emmanuel Fernandez handling Tete Yengi’s goal-bound shot.
• The panel said referee Ross Hardie and VAR were wrong, stating an on-field review should have been recommended and rating the incident 2 out of 5 in difficulty.
• SFA guidance cited a ‘natural’ arm position and close proximity for the initial non-intervention, but chairman Calvin Ford acknowledged the error and issued an apology.
• Martindale reiterated he would prefer Scottish football without VAR, while Livingston staff questioned the consistency of how the technology is applied.