Only two of this weekend’s four Premier Sports Cup ties are going to have VAR in operation.
Friday night’s first quarter-final clash between Premiership sides Motherwell and Dundee United at Fir Park, and Saturday’s match between Aberdeen and League Two Spartans at Pittodrie will both be played without video assistant referees.
The clubs involved will save a sum in the region of £16,000 by taking advantage of League Cup rules.
SPFL regulations state that games picked for live transmission across subscription channel Premier Sports must use VAR where possible, with both Rangers and Celtic picking up the tab for their home games against Dundee and Falkirk, respectively.
However, while Premier Sports will offer coverage from Fir Park and Pittodrie, the games are only available on a per-per-view matchday bonus streaming basis.
And that loophole means the clubs involved can decide with their opponents whether they want to split the bill for extra cameras, pitchside monitors and the central operational hub which come with the use of VAR.
Just two of the quarter final clashes will have VAR system in operation
Motherwell are one of the clubs who have opted out of using the system for cup tie
Celtic and Rangers will both use VAR for their respective Premier Sports Cup clashes
In a cost-saving measure, Motherwell, Dundee United, Aberdeen and Spartans have elected to pass, creating the spectre of a two-tier system of justice in the same round of the competition.
Alan Muir is in the VAR booth as Rangers return to Ibrox for the first time this season in a 5.30pm kick-off tomorrow (sat). Andrew Dallas will act as video assistant for Celtic’s home clash with Championship leaders Falkirk on Sunday.