Image source, SNSImage caption, Alexandros Kyziridis and Hearts were left frustrated by a draw at Motherwell on 9 May
- Published2 hours ago
Celtic's late penalty at Motherwell was the correct decision but Hearts were wrongly denied a spot-kick at Fir Park, the Scottish FA's head of refereeing has said.
Giving his monthly update on video assistant referee (VAR) calls,, external addressed John Beaton's decision to award an added-time penalty for handball against Sam Nicholson in Well's 3-2 defeat by Celtic, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the winner from the spot on 13 May, and an unsuccessful penalty claim by Hearts in their 1-1 draw against Motherwell on 9 May.
Tawanda Maswanhise appeared to trip Hearts' Alexandros Kyziridis but referee Steven McLean ruled no foul, despite reviewing the incident at the VAR monitor.
Long-time leaders Hearts ultimately lost the Scottish Premiership to Celtic by two points but the Tynecastle side finished with a slightly better goal difference.
Collum backed the Celtic penalty at Fir Park, citing "clear evidence" with Nicholson's hand and arm "in an unnatural position" and the resulting contact "a punishable handball".
"We fully support what they've reached in terms of an outcome," he added. "We've been very consistent with handballs when it goes above shoulder height."
On the Maswanhise-Kyziridis incident, the VAR team's view was that a foul had taken place but released audio of the discussion between the officials revealed referee McLean saying: "I've not seen enough."
And Collum commented: "Once the referee comes to the monitor, the expected decision and the preferred decision here would be a penalty kick to be awarded.
"My personal opinion is that that's a penalty kick. There's some debate in refereeing I would say and we will discuss it with our referees pre-season."
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However, Collum described McLean's first-half call not to award Hearts a penalty for handball against Motherwell's Emmanuel Longelo as "good, accurate on-field decision making". The ball appeared to strike Longelo's shoulder as it dropped before the defender cleared.
"If this player touches the ball with a punishable part of the arm then for sure, this should be a penalty kick," Collum said.
"Referees need a visual here to be able to make these judgments on-field and the visual is the t-shirt line. The t-shirt line is the guiding principle. The ball lands above the t-shirt line, therefore not punishable."
Decisions in Old Firm derby backed
Collum also addressed two incidents in Celtic's 3-1 home win over Rangers on 10 May, refereed by Nick Walsh.
The visitors had claimed unsuccessfully for offside when Yang Hyun-jun equalised in a crowded penalty area and Alistair Johnston was booked for a challenge on Rangers' Mikey Moore at 1-1.
The head of refereeing said Johnston's tackle did not meet the "criteria" in terms of "excessive force", "brutality" and "endangering the safety of an opponent".
"We agree with the referee that it's reckless," Collum said. "We would say it's glancing contact, it's not full studs on the leg, bending over the leg."
And Collum also backed the award of the Yang goal on the grounds of the goalkeeper's line of vision and Benjamin Nygren not interfering with play.
"Jack Butland can see the shot," said Collum. "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."
Two decisions in Celtic's 2-1 win at Hibernian on 3 May were discussed. Collum said a push by Hibernian's Josh Campbell on Nygren, which did not result in a spot-kick, "should've been a penalty".
"Josh Campbell completely ignores the ball," said Collum. "It's a two-handed push. This is far removed from normal footballing contact. This is too excessive for us to ignore."
However, the award of Hibs' equaliser after no handball was given against scorer Joe Newell was the correct call following a "thorough check", said Collum.
"They don't see any conclusive evidence here to say that Joe Newell has touched this with a punishable part of the arm," he added.
