Willie Collum supports referee in Celtic flashpoint as two-part VAR intervention criteria not met
Head of Referees reviewed incident against Dundee United at Celtic Park last month
Celtic defender Colby Donovan was rightfully awarded a yellow card in their 2-2 stalemate with Dundee United, despite claims he should’ve saw red.
That is according to Head of Referees Willie Collum, who reckons the officiating team got it right when the sides met at Parkhead on October 28. Shortly after the visitors took a 2-1 lead, Donovan put in a heavy challenge on United forward Zac Sapsford, catching him high on his leg despite winning the ball. The Tangerines appealed for a dismissal, but referee Steven McLean decided a yellow was sufficient punishment. VAR Chris Graham thought the same and chose not to intervene.
The incident split opinion among pundits at the time, but speaking on the VAR Review, Collum explained that the challenge fell below VAR criteria for ‘excessive force’ and ‘brutality’ as Donovan just pulled away his leg in time.
Collum supports referee in Celtic vs Dundee United flashpoint
The former whistler explained: “The (Donovan’s) leg comes away rather than continuing and extending when the contact is made. Also, it’s perfect in terms of the process. The on-field communication clearly adds up to what the pictures show, and the VAR team go through it. They know what the referee’s description is, they then explain it. They see that what the referee has seen is exactly what they’re seeing. It’s therefore check complete on a yellow card.”
“I think there’s a retraction of the leg after winning the ball, there is contact, but he’s trying to withdraw out of that challenge. You could easily use criteria here on the height and say, ‘It’s high up on the leg, therefore you could try and justify a red card’. Without a shadow of a doubt, you could say that...
“But we’re also not in the business of finding every detail to try and red card players. We need to make sure that we meet the criteria and height is one criteria. You heard good use of criteria there – excessive force, brutality… does it meet those requirements? And if not, then the on-field decision is fully supported.”
What did pundits make of the Donovan challenge?
The incident came shortly after St Johnstone winger Kai Fotheringham was sent off against Rangers for a similar challenge. Former Hoops midfielder Scott Allan thought Donovan should have been given his marching orders because of this. He said: “For me, it’s very similar to Kai Fotheringham’s for St Johnstone at the weekend, albeit I don’t think he makes the same amount of contract. I think he does nick the calf. I think a lot of Dundee United fans especially will be asking for a bit of consistency but I don’t think he catches him with the same momentum.”
Meanwhile, Hoops icon Peter Grant disagrees, claiming that the lack of contact made from Donovan just prevented him from seeing red. He explained: “His legs went through his legs. When I saw it, I was concerned but the replay shows that he has got a bit of luck. Fair play to the referee, he made the right call.”
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