Willie Collum has broken his silence on Liam Scales’ foul on Vaclav Cerny from Celtic’s win over Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup Final.
The Hoops defender tugged on his opponent’s jersey in extra-time of his side’s 3-3 draw with their rivals before going on to win 5-4 on penalties.
At the time, Gers fans were screaming for a spot-kick with the suggestion being that Scales was inside the area when the foul occurred.
Cerny, too, had his foot on the line which Rangers supporters felt strengthened their case but now the VAR audio from the final has been released.
The VAR officials felt the moment was “close, but just outside the area” and ref John Beaton gave the free-kick.
Celtic’s Paulo Bernardo also clamped the penalty claims and insisted his side were open to moving past the controversy.
Now, though, Collum has explained that the VAR team got it WRONG and that it should, indeed, have been a penalty.
To the point that Beaton need not have even been called to the monitor as it should have been a “factual overturn.”
The VAR team from the Premier Sports Cup Final have already been axed from action this week.
Willie Collum said VAR got the Rangers ‘penalty’ call wrong
“So there’s a holding incident we need to assess here,” Collum said on the Scottish FA’s VAR Review show.
“The holding is the key part of the decision. It’s really, really important.
“There’s been a lot said that the Rangers player has a foot on the penalty area line, the foot is actually irrelevant in this case. It’s about the holding, the holding only because that’s where the contact is.
“The holding begins outside the area but it continues on the line.
“Even arguably on the line and fully into the penalty area.
“Regardless, the fact that it’s only the line, this should be considered a penalty kick.”
Why Collum says it should have been a ‘factual overturn’
Collum continued that the foul was clear and obviously inside the area as it is moreso about where Scales stood as opposed to Cerny.
And that’s why it should have been a “factual overturn”.
“The referee has awarded a free-kick on the field and has correctly judged the incident in terms of foul play,” he added.
“But then the VAR team need to go into a check and decide if this incident is inside or outside.
“Ultimately they have failed to come to the correct conclusion which is that this was a factual overturn.
“No need for the referee to go to the monitor. A factual overturn for a penalty to be awarded.”
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