AliousScottish FA Head of Refereeing Operations, Willie Collum, has commended the VAR review process that led to the rescinding of Hamza Igamane’s red card during Rangers’ clash with St Mirren.
He described the decision as an exemplary demonstration of how the technology should be utilized.
According to Collum, referees must be willing to thoroughly reassess incidents during VAR checks, regardless of the initial reason for their referral to the pitchside monitor. This, he argued, is key to ensuring fair and accurate officiating.
However, Collum also pointed out recent instances where VAR was applied incorrectly.
He criticized the disallowing of a Celtic goal against Hibernian, arguing that there was no conclusive evidence that the ball had fully crossed the line before Alistair Johnston’s assist.
Given the lack of definitive proof, he believes the on-field decision to award the goal should have remained.
Additionally, Collum addressed a red card given to St Mirren’s Killian Phillips, which was later overturned. While the VAR review determined that the contact did not warrant a sending-off, Collum disagreed, asserting that the initial decision was justified.
These cases highlight the ongoing struggles in achieving consistency and precision in officiating within Scottish football. Collum’s remarks underscore the necessity of refining VAR implementation to ensure it serves its intended purpose—enhancing, rather than complicating, decision-making in the game.
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