Willie Collum Explains Logical VAR Call From Celtic’s Win Over Hearts Last Month

Celtic’s clash with Hearts at Parkhead last month has sparked debate surrounding VAR decisions.

Hearts were denied a penalty in the first half before the Hoops were given one at the beginning of the second 45. Head of Referees Willie Collum has since clarified the former during the latest VAR Review Show on YouTube. 

The incident in question occurred during the opening 45 when Hearts were initially awarded a penalty after Lawrence Shankland’s header struck Liam Scales in the box.

VAR soon intervened, though, advising the on-field referee to review the incident. After heading to the pitchside monitor and looking closer at the incident, Colin Steven overturned the decision, ruling out the penalty and leaving Hearts frustrated.

On the VAR Review Show, Collum shed light on why the penalty was not ultimately given. “First of all, it’s a difficult decision at speed,” he said.

He went on to explain how VAR’s multiple camera angles were crucial in determining the final call. “When you analyse it, and the VAR looks at different angles, they quickly identify that it actually hits the defender above the t-shirt line, and that’s really important because above the t-shirt line is not a punishable handball.”

Collum added further context, stating that if the ball had made contact lower on Scales’ arm, the decision could have been different. “If you move the ball 30cm down the arm, it would have been a penalty, even though it’s really close because the arm is too outstretched for us.”

The decision not to award the penalty, backed by the VAR team’s review, highlights the fine margins in officiating and how crucial positioning and interpretation of the rules can be. Hearts may feel aggrieved by the outcome, but Collum’s explanation underscores the strict criteria for handball decisions, especially when VAR is involved.

As ever, VAR remains a hot topic in Scottish Football, and multiple incidents like this will occur in the weeks to come.