“Aberdeen’s VAR Grievance: ‘Why Only One Line?’ Leven Claims, Scottish Premier League Release Eye Opening Footage Concerning Nygren’s Winning goal
Aberdeen’s frustration over a controversial VAR decision has sparked a heated debate across Scottish football after the Scottish Premiership released fresh footage explaining why the decisive goal was allowed to stand. The moment in question involved a marginal offside call in the build-up to the late winner scored by Benjamin Nygren against Aberdeen FC a decision that interim boss Peter Leven believes raises serious questions about VAR consistency.
The controversy erupted immediately after the goal was awarded. Aberdeen players protested heavily, arguing that Nygren appeared to be beyond the last defender when the decisive pass was played. From the stands and television angles, the situation looked extremely tight, prompting calls for a full VAR explanation.
Leven was particularly vocal after the match, questioning the visual evidence used by officials during the VAR check.
“Everyone watching expected to see the usual set of lines across the defensive line,” Leven said. “Instead we only saw one line used in the review. Naturally people will ask: why only one line?”
His comments quickly spread among fans and pundits, with many wondering whether the technology had been applied correctly. VAR typically displays two lines one marking the attacker and another for the defender to determine the precise offside position. In this case, however, the broadcast footage only appeared to show a single reference line, fuelling suspicion among supporters.
In response to the growing controversy, the Scottish Premiership’s officiating body released detailed VAR footage and an explanation intended to clarify the situation.
According to officials, the decision to use a single visible line was due to the specific positioning of the players at the moment the pass was played. The defender’s body was already clearly behind the attacking player’s reference point on the calibrated system, meaning the software automatically locked the key offside point on Nygren while the defensive reference remained fixed within the digital frame.
Officials explained that the system confirmed Nygren’s body was marginally behind the final defender when the ball was released meaning the forward was technically onside.
The league’s statement described the decision as “marginal but correct,” emphasizing that the calibrated technology used by VAR measures the exact point of the attacker’s scoring body parts relative to the defensive line.
The newly released footage shows the freeze-frame moment and the digital calibration process used by the VAR team. Once the correct frame was selected, the line placed across Nygren’s body confirmed that he was fractionally onside, validating the referee’s decision to award the goal.
While the explanation satisfied some observers, it has not completely eased the frustration within the Aberdeen camp.
Leven acknowledged that the footage provided clarity but maintained that communication around VAR decisions needs to improve to avoid confusion among fans and players.
“When people don’t understand the process, it creates doubt,” he said. “If the technology proves the goal is onside, then fair enough but supporters need to see clearly how the decision is reached.”
For Aberdeen supporters, the moment remains a painful one, especially given the importance of the result in a tightly contested Premiership campaign. Marginal VAR calls have increasingly become part of the modern game, but they rarely feel easier to accept for the team on the wrong side of them.
What the released footage ultimately confirmed is that Nygren’s winner was not a mistake from the officials but a razor-thin call decided by technology.
In a league where every point can shape the table, this incident will likely be remembered as another example of how millimetres and VAR lines can change everything.
