The Scottish Football Association (SFA) chief, Hugh Collum, recently provided insights regarding key refereeing incidents during Celtic’s recent matches. These discussions centered on controversial decisions made in two separate games, including Celtic’s impressive victory over both Rangers and Hibernian.
Celtic vs. Rangers: The Penalty Incident
In the match on May 10, where Celtic defeated Rangers 3-1, a critical moment involved Alistair Johnston’s tackle on Rangers player Mikey Moore. Collum clarified that Johnston’s tackle did not constitute excessive force, brutality, or endanger an opponent’s safety. He stated that the contact was minimal and did not warrant a booking.
- Match Date: May 10
- Final Score: Celtic 3 – 1 Rangers
- Key Player: Alistair Johnston
- Incident: Booking for a tackle
Collum endorsed the refereeing decision that allowed Yang Hyun-jun’s equalizer to stand. Despite Rangers’ claims of offside, Collum asserted that the Celtic player did not interfere with the goalkeeper, Jack Butland. He emphasized that Butland’s line of sight remained clear, thus validating the goal.
Celtic vs. Hibernian: A Missed Penalty?
Another set of decisions was discussed regarding Celtic’s narrow 2-1 win against Hibernian on May 3. Collum stated that a push by Hibernian’s Josh Campbell on Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren should have resulted in a penalty. He described it as a significant infraction, noting Campbell’s excessive contact with two hands.
- Match Date: May 3
- Final Score: Celtic 2 – 1 Hibernian
- Key Incident: Potential penalty for a push
However, Collum confirmed that the referee correctly ruled out a handball against Hibernian’s Joe Newell during the build-up to their equalizer. After a thorough review, no conclusive evidence showed Newell had handled the ball.
Key Takeaways from the Refereeing Decisions
- Johnston’s tackle deemed reckless but not deserving of punishment.
- Yang’s goal considered valid as he did not interfere with play.
- Missed penalty opportunity for Celtic against Hibernian.
- Correct ruling on Newell not handballing the ball.
These insights by Collum reflect the SFA’s commitment to transparency in officiating amidst ongoing debates regarding match decisions, especially in high-stakes encounters involving Celtic.
