SFA Chief Willie Collum Reviews Controversial Celtic and Hearts Refereeing Decisions

According to Collum, the official application of VAR protocols dictates that penalties for handball immediately preceding a goal only apply when the player who actually handles the ball is the one who puts it over the line.

Dissecting High-Profile Decisions from Glasgow to Edinburgh

Collum also addressed two major incidents from Celtic’s 3-1 home win over Rangers on 10 May, which was originally refereed by Nick Walsh. Visiting officials had argued unsuccessfully for offside when Yang Hyun-jun equalized in a crowded penalty area, and claimed Alistair Johnston deserved a red card for a challenge on Rangers player Mikey Moore at 1-1. According to the head of refereeing, Johnston’s tackle did not meet the necessary criteria for excessive force, brutality, or endangering an opponent’s safety.

“We agree with the referee that it’s reckless,” Collum stated regarding the Johnston challenge. “We would say it’s glancing contact, it’s not full studs on the leg, bending over the leg.”

On the Yang goal, Collum backed the referee’s decision based on the goalkeeper’s line of vision and evaluated that Benjamin Nygren did not interfere with active play. “Jack Butland can see the shot,” Collum explained. “The ball doesn’t deviate, it continues in that direction. Does the Celtic player, attacker who is offside in front of the goalkeeper, does he make a movement towards Butland? Does he try to make a movement towards the ball? He makes no attempt to interfere with the goalkeeper.”

Contrasting Officiating Scrutiny at Hibernian

Shifting focus to Celtic’s 2-1 victory away against Hibernian on 3 May, Collum admitted that a notable missed penalty should have favored the visitors. A push by Hibernian player Josh Campbell on Nygren went unpunished during live play, but Collum conceded it “should’ve been a penalty.” He noted that Campbell completely ignored the ball, delivering a two-handed push far removed from normal footballing contact that was too excessive to ignore.

Conversely, Collum defended the award of Hibernian’s equalizer after a thorough VAR check found no punishable handball against scorer Joe Newell. Officials determined there was no conclusive evidence to suggest Newell touched the ball with a punishable part of his arm.

As the Scottish Premiership season progresses, transparency from the SFA remains vital for maintaining competitive integrity on the pitch.

Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.