Scottish FA Confirms VAR Penalty Error in St Mirren-Hibs Match

Willie Collum, head of referees at the Scottish FA, has been central to several high-profile VAR decisions this season, notably involving handball controversies in Scottish Premiership matches. Collum defended the disallowing of Callum McGregor's goal for Celtic against St Mirren due to a handball, emphasizing that while the handball was not deliberate or punishable by itself, it was penalized because it directly led to a goal. He also strongly supported the decision that a handball by St Mirren defender Jayden Richardson in a last-minute shot-block against Hibernian should have resulted in a penalty, describing Richardson's action as a deliberate 'saving motion' akin to a goalkeeper, which makes the handball punishable regardless of the ball hitting his chest first or proximity to the attacker. These incidents drew further debate, with Dundee United's manager Jim Goodwin suggesting that Collum's public comments on a prior penalty controversy may have subconsciously influenced referees in awarding a late penalty to Hibernian in a 3-3 draw. Collum's detailed explanations and the released VAR audio and video footage reveal the complexities and contentious nature of handball rulings under VAR, highlighting ongoing tensions among clubs, officials, and fans regarding the interpretation and application of handball laws in Scottish football.