Scottish football’s head of referees confirms support for recent match officials’ decisions regarding handballs
Willie Collum, the head of refereeing in Scotland, expressed his agreement with recent match officials’ decisions regarding handballs that were not awarded, in addition to his support for amending another penalty using Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.
Collum agreed with the VAR decision not to award a penalty to Rangers in the -2-2 draw against Dundee United at Tannadice, after the ball struck the hand of a Dundee United defender from a shot following a cross. Collum described the incident as “not punishable in any way.”
Collum also noted the awarding of a late penalty to Rangers, converted by Nedim Bajrami after Will Ferry fouled Max Johnston. He also extended his support for the decision not to award a penalty to Heart of Midlothian against Harry Milne, who blocked a Kieron Wilson shot at the back line during a Falkirk attack. Collum said it was “one hundred percent not a penalty” because Milne had his arm tucked into his body.
On the other hand, Celtic defender Luke Scales was penalized with a handball in his team’s 2-1 win over Hibernian. Collum again agreed that it was a “correct decision.”
Heart of Midlothian appealed for a penalty in the 1-1 home draw against Kilmarnock after the ball hit Dominic Thompson’s hand. However, Collum supported the match officials’ decision there as well.
Collum said he also agreed with the decision not to give a red card to goalkeeper Jack Butland for colliding with Kilmarnock player Danny Armstrong outside the penalty area, and the decision not to caution Rangers player Mohamed Diomande for pulling back David Watson on the edge of the box, both incidents occurring during Rangers’ 3-0 win over Kilmarnock.
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