Neil Doncaster insists VAR mid season SPFL approach has been done elsewhere as he reveals current total cost

The league chief was pleased as 41 of 42 member clubs approved its introduction in the top flight and defended the call to implement VAR from December.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has revealed the implementation of VAR is on track to cost Scottish clubs in excess of £1million.

But he's actively working to drive the cost down after 41 out of 42 member clubs voted for its introduction in the Premiership on Tuesday.

The technology will be in place at some point next season with the league aiming to make VAR a fixture in every top flight game after the division returns from the World Cup break in mid-December.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Doncaster said: "It'll be paid on a sliding scale from one to 12 in the cinch Premiership.

"Ultimately, the other 30 clubs won't be covering any of the costs but the clubs benefiting will be paying for it.

"It will be an expensive piece of kit, the quotes at the moment are over £1million.

"We're hoping to drive down the costs as best we can and working with the Scottish FA to minimise the requirement for clubs to continue.

"We're very pleased that overnight the Scottish FA gave an implementation grant to enable us to bring in VAR next season"

Some have criticised the plans to introduce VAR after the five-week break in the 2022-23 season for the World Cup in Qatar, insisting having one half of a campaign officiated solely on the park with video assistance for the second half could lead to arguments down the line.

But Doncaster insists the Premiership will not be the first league to follow such a process.

He added: "In an ideal world you'd want to implement VAR at the start of a season but we've been told it simply won't be ready in time for the start of next season.

"It's far better to wait until VAR can be implemented effectively and with confidence.

"We won't be the only league to have implemented VAR on a staggered basis, I think the Polish and Czech Republic leagues have done the same. What's important is when it does go live it works as it should."