Vote on the retention of VAR

[bazil85]

There’s a motion for a SPFL vote on the retention/ demise of VAR through SMISA. 

It’s a members led vote instead of SMISA itself, as such they won’t directly email members about it unless it gets the support needed (5% of members which is 73 people). 

If any SMISA member is interested in backing the vote or wants the official comms emailed over so they can read/ decide. Send me a private message with your email. 

Alternatively info was posted on the Facebook fan group pages yesterday.

A SMISA member can also pledge their support by quoting the below, either on the chat or in a private message and i’ll pass it on. 

 

 

SMISA member with voting rights - yes 

Supportive of a fan vote on the retention of VAR - yes 

Name

[bazil85]

Cheers to those that emailed/ private messaged for more details on this. 

Blown right by 40%support in less than five days since the initial proposals went out. If anyone still wants information, I will now share on here for a read. 

Thought it best to hang off initially because it’s quite long. 👍

Any questions, points to make let me know. You know I like a good, healthy, respectful discussion on here 😂

[bazil85]

Slightly abbreviated believe it or not.  

 

Dear SMISA member,

I’m seeking your support to request a Special General Meeting (SGM), with the aim of obliging an SPFL member club vote on the future of VAR from the 2026/27 season onwards.

If you are indeed a SMISA member and would like to support my request, please reply confirming two things:

1. You are an eligible voting SMISA member (all members excluding Junior)
2. You support holding a members’ vote on this proposal

 

Reply in this format:
SMISA member with voting rights – Yes
Support for the proposal – Yes

Please also add full name if it isn't clear from your email stamp.

There are no additional requirements in supporting the proposal. Per SMISA governance, I require 73 (5%) voting members’ support to progress to a vote. However, if you know other SMISA members who may support this, please forward this email and copy me in.

The proposal (the question to clubs)
Should the SPFL continue using VAR in its current form from the 2026/27 season onwards in the Scottish Premier League and cup competitions? Yes/No

This relates specifically to the current technology, implementation, and existing Scottish referee and officials’ population. We strongly encourage fans and clubs to vote based on what VAR currently is, not on a hypothetical future state, as there has been no communication on significant changes to technology, the introduction of full-time officials, or meaningful upskilling of the current referee population. Bar some minimal changes, it is very likely VAR for 2026/27 will be managed in a similar fashion to the last three seasons.

What happens next
• If I am supported by 73 SMISA members, it will trigger an SGM mandate.
• A formal vote will be cascaded to SMISA members on “the proposal”.
• If approved by members, the St Mirren board would be obliged to approach the SPFL and request a league-wide club vote on VAR.

Guidance to SPFL member clubs on voting
Should the vote pass the SMISA stages, we will strongly recommend clubs are transparent and including of supporters by confirming the below parameters in how they have decided to vote:
• Did the club consult fans on how to vote on the proposal? Yes/No

If yes:

• How they were consulted (e.g. season ticket polling, fan ownership votes such as SMISA/Well Society)
• The outcome of that engagement
• Whether the club vote reflects fan views

Why this matters
This is about progressing a highly divisive issue in Scottish football through a clear, democratic process. It will either:
• Demonstrate clubs are engaging properly with fans and taking their views onboard, or
• Highlight where fan views are not being reflected by SPFL clubs

Either way, it brings clarity and accountability. The best-case scenario will be clubs engaging with fans and the vote, democratically reflective of fan views. Should this happen, regardless of the voting outcome, Scottish football will be able to move on knowing it’s a democratically arrived at view.

Important context
This proposal is only about whether VAR should continue in its current format for 2026/27 and beyond.
We recognise improvements may be explored, but there is no clear justification for continuing with the current model and VAR usage if fans declare they do not want to while those discussions continue.
Even in the English Premier League, with significantly greater investment, full-time officials and advanced technology, recent fan sentiment has shown strong opposition to VAR. Over 75% of polled fans were against its continued use.
There is also evidence that it is unpopular in Scottish football. Last season, the Well Society (Motherwell) polled its members, with 63% of respondents not supporting VAR.

Please help
As noted above, if you know other SMISA members who may support this, please forward this email and copy me in.
Whether you support VAR or not, this is an opportunity for St Mirren and Scottish football to be trendsetter and lead on meaningful fan engagement and deliver a genuinely democratic outcome.

I look forward to hearing from you and if you wish to discuss further before deciding on your support, please let me know.

Best wishes and COYS

[bazil85]

I know the manager appointment is the hot topic and rightfully so. 

But just in way of an update on the SMISA VAR vote. We have now passed the 90% mark. Seven notes of support from SMISA members left and it will trigger an SGM mandate. 

Thanks to those that have supported already. Send me a message if you can help get us over the line. 

[HSS]

I’m sure the hearts fans would support this too 😂

Sellic fans?

Maybe not

[stlucifer]

9 hours ago, HSS said:

I’m sure the hearts fans would support this too 😂

Sellic fans?

Maybe not

Hearts did benefit from VAR decisions too. We are well out in front for miscarriage of justice as far as VAR is concerned. I think the agenda of suggesting celtic somehow won the league purely because of VAR is a misconception that is fuelled by those who will use any statistic to undermine Hearts' undoubted failure to capitalise on what should have been a disastrous season for both glasgow entities. Hearts fell apart,.... AGAIN.

Personally? I was probably in the minority of non ersecheeks fans who DIDN'T want McInnes to win anything as I find him an odious toad.

ALMOST to the extent of wanting celtic to win the league and see his team fail and his fans sitting on the steps of wherever bawling again. I was disappointed it wasn't the likes of Motherwell who were in their situation as it would have been a shoe in that I'd be metaphorically wearing maroon and amber on the final day. 

Edited 2 hours ago by stlucifer