The Scottish Soccer Affiliation’s head of referees Willie Collum believes Celtic and Dundee United ought to have been awarded penalties following his early-season evaluation of VAR.
Collum additionally criticised referee Matthew MacDermid’s physique language earlier than Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers scored towards St Johnstone of their Premier Sports activities Cup win at Hampden Park final month.
Former referee Collum, who took cost of Scotland’s officers this summer time, defined some huge choices from the primary 4 weeks of the season in ‘The VAR Overview’, a brand new month-to-month present on the SFA’s YouTube channel.
He reviewed the controversial incident at Celtic Park when Hoops striker Kyogo Furuhashi touched the ball previous Robby McCrorie earlier than colliding with the Kilmarnock goalkeeper.
Referee Don Robertson and VAR officers concluded that “the goalkeeper just makes himself big”, however Collum stated: “We imagine this was the mistaken resolution. We have now coached the referees and the VARs {that a} penalty kick ought to have been awarded right here.
Collum says McCrorie’s actions have been “reckless” after Kyogo knocked the ball previous him
“It’s an surprising free-kick with the best way the ball is chipped. It catches the on-field referee unexpectedly and it’s totally troublesome for the referee to search out an angle spherical that wall to get a correct view.
“The Celtic player clearly gets ahead and touches the ball past the goalkeeper and we then think the goalkeeper’s actions are reckless. An off-field review should have been requested and the referee asked to come to the monitor.”
Collum additionally highlighted the incident when referee David Dickinson turned down Dundee United claims for a spot-kick after the ball struck the arm of Dundee defender Luke Graham.
Referee David Dickinson didn’t award Dundee United a penalty within the derby towards Dundee
“This was a missed handball,” stated Collum. “The ball firstly travels from distance, from a corner kick.
“The Dundee participant, when he jumps, his arm is in an unnatural place and he is not jostling with an opponent.”
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Highlights from the Dundee derby in the beginning of the Scottish Premiership season
Collum additionally cleared up a contentious Rangers aim towards St Johnstone when Dessers netted after dispossessing Saints defender Jack Sanders.
A few of the gamers and supervisor Craig Levein advised their defenders had been distracted by MacDermid signalling for a Saints free-kick.
Collum revealed an audio recording confirmed that the official had not blown his whistle earlier than the aim was scored.
St Johnstone claimed the whistle was blown earlier than Rangers scored of their League Cup match however a evaluate of audio proved that was not the case
“Here, the referee probably doesn’t display good body language,” stated Collum. “His body language when the challenge is made is edging towards a free-kick.
“However he accurately delays the whistle, he accurately communicates so the VAR is conscious of what he intends doing if a aim is scored and, when the ball hits the web, he then blows his whistle for what he deems to be a defensive free-kick.
“VAR checks and realises the Rangers player hasn’t committed a foul and they therefore recommend an on-field review.
“Aside from the physique language, the right course of was adopted and in the end the right resolution was reached.”
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