VIDEO technology to assist referees could be introduced to Scottish football within months.
It has been reported that the game's governing body in Scotland is of several national associations to have expressed an interest in participating in a two-year experiment on camera use.
If the SFA is given the go-ahead to take part, it could even be introduced for when the top tier teams join the next Scottish Cup in January 2017.
Dutch clubs have been experimenting with video technology for the past 18 months and now IFAB, the body responsible for setting the game’s rules, want it extended worldwide with a view to permanent change.
The technology could be used to assist decision making on controversial incidents such as goal line disputes, penalty decisisons, red cards and cases of mistaken identity.
Major changes to the footballing rule book are due to be rolled out from the start of Euro 2016.
The SFA’s head of refereeing, John Fleming, will attend a two-day conference in Holland next month to discuss the issue further.
He told the Daily Record: “The interest expressed in this experiment by national associations around the world is the highest known in football.
“The SFA have noted our interest but there are still important issues to be confronted on how video technology would work.
“Only if every associations agrees to follow the same principles and practicalities will we get a true reflection of its worth or otherwise to football."
Discussions are ongoing about the number of cameras involved, support staff required and, crucially, who makes the call to inform the man in the middle and the time delay it may introduce into the game.
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