In his latest monthly update on VAR decisions, the Scottish FA's head of refereeing, Willie Collum, dissected a series of critical calls from the final weeks of the Premiership season. The review shed light on why Celtic's added-time penalty at Motherwell stood and why Hearts were left frustrated after their own claim was dismissed, ultimately impacting the narrow title race.
The most dramatic moment came on May 13, when referee John Beaton pointed to the spot in the 92nd minute at Fir Park after Sam Nicholson was judged to have handled the ball. Kelechi Iheanacho converted to seal a 3-2 win for Celtic. Collum was unequivocal in his support, stating that Nicholson's arm was "in an unnatural position" and the contact constituted a punishable handball. "We've been very consistent with handballs when it goes above shoulder height," Collum explained, adding that the evidence was clear and the decision fully aligned with the league's interpretation.
While Celtic's penalty was upheld, Collum's assessment of Hearts' visit to the same ground on May 9 painted a different picture. Alexandros Kyziridis appeared to be tripped by Tawanda Maswanhise inside the box, but after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor, referee Steven McLean controversially decided no foul had occurred. Collum did not hide his disagreement. "Once the referee comes to the monitor, the expected decision here would be a penalty kick," he said, revealing his personal view that a spot-kick should have been given. The denial proved costly: Hearts drew 1-1, and in a season where they finished just two points behind Celtic, those lost two points might have drastically altered the championship outcome.
There was further frustration for Hearts in the same match. Earlier, they had appealed for handball against Emmanuel Longelo, but Collum backed McLean's on-field call. Replays showed the ball dropping onto Longelo's shoulder, well above the "t-shirt line" that officials use as a guide. "The t-shirt line is the guiding principle," Collum noted. "The ball lands above the t-shirt line, therefore not punishable." This distinction between the Longelo non-call and Nicholson's handball underscored the fine margins referees navigate.
The Edinburgh side's title dreams were ultimately undone by such fine margins, but Celtic also benefited from a key offside decision in their 3-1 win over Rangers on May 10. When Yang Hyun-jun equalised for the hosts, Rangers players immediately protested, claiming that an offside teammate had obstructed goalkeeper Jack Butland. Collum, however, insisted the goal was correctly allowed. "Jack Butland can see the shot," he said. "The ball doesn't deviate… Does the Celtic player make a movement towards Butland? He makes no attempt to interfere." With Benjamin Nygren deemed passive, the goal stood, and Celtic went on to win comfortably.
The same Old Firm clash featured a contentious tackle by Celtic's Alistair Johnston on Rangers' Mikey Moore. Referee Nick Walsh showed only a yellow card, a decision Collum endorsed. While acknowledging the challenge was reckless, he argued it lacked the "excessive force" or "brutality" required for a red card. "We agree with the referee that it's reckless," he said. "It's glancing contact, not full studs on the leg." The call preserved Celtic's numerical advantage at a pivotal stage of the match.
At Easter Road on May 3, another Celtic win was overshadowed by a penalty claim. Hibs' Josh Campbell delivered a blatant two-handed shove on Benjamin Nygren, but no spot-kick was given. Collum deemed this a clear error. "Josh Campbell completely ignores the ball," he stated. "It's a two-handed push… This is too excessive for us to ignore." Had the penalty been awarded and converted, Celtic might have faced a sterner test; instead, they emerged with a narrow 2-1 victory.
That same afternoon, Hibs equalised through Joe Newell after a VAR check for a potential handball. Collum said the officials conducted a "thorough check" and found no conclusive evidence that the ball touched a punishable part of Newell's arm. The goal stood, and Collum's explanation highlighted the high bar for overturning on-field calls without clear visual proof.
The accumulation of these decisions reveals a season-long struggle for consistency that has vexed managers and fans alike. While Collum's monthly debriefs are an attempt to increase transparency, they also expose the subjective nature of many calls. The admission that McLean should have awarded a penalty to Hearts is a significant concession, especially given the title race's tight finish.
Looking ahead, Collum indicated that the Maswanhise-Kyziridis incident will be discussed with referees during preseason, suggesting a potential shift in how such contact is interpreted. For Hearts, it's a bitter pill: one decision that, if different, could have forced Celtic to settle for a draw and handed the title to Tynecastle. For the champions, the validated calls underline the fine margins that decide championships.
As the season closes, Collum's review serves both as a defense of the officials' process and an acknowledgment of human fallibility. While Celtic's late penalty and Johnston's tackle were deemed correct, the missed call against Campbell and the refusal to overturn McLean's decision show there is room for improvement. The SFA's willingness to publicly debate these incidents is a step toward accountability, but it does little to ease the pain for those on the wrong side of the whistle.
The monthly VAR update underscores that even with technology, the interpretation of key moments remains a fiercely debated art. Hearts, in particular, will rue what might have been, while Celtic can point to rulings that validated their championship. Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
