Celtic expert lays into Willie Collum as Sky footage re-analysed – ‘something has to be done’
Frank McAvennie has slammed Willie Collum’s disastrous performance in the VAR room when Celtic faced Rangers on Monday (2 January).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Hoops striker questioned how the Gers have not conceded a single penalty this season.
As shown on Sky Sports (2 January), Connor Goldson appears to handle the ball in his own penalty area as Carl Starfelt hit a strike from close range.
VAR official Willie Collum saw no clear and obvious error with John Beaton’s on-field decision against awarding a penalty and didn’t instruct the referee to have another look on the pitch-side monitor.
As relayed by the Sun (4 January), the Ibrox club are the only team in the league to have not faced a single penalty against them this season, before or after the introduction of VAR.
The have also been awarded five penalties so far this season, three of which came in after the introduction of VAR.
The Celts have been awarded just two penalties this season, both of which have come from the introduction of the video technology.
The Parkhead club have also conceded five penalties this season, all of which have come after the introduction of VAR.
McAvennie insisted changes have to be made in Scottish refereeing.
“Something has got to be done with the referees,” he told Football Insider.
“Rangers have not had a penalty given against them. The referees should say who they support so they are not picked to referee a game for them.
“It is Willie Collum I have got a gripe with. He is watching it the same as millions of people at home. If he thinks he knows better than millions of people then fair enough.
“Every footballer and referee that I have seen since then have all said it was a penalty. John Beaton had a good game but he should have had another look at it because if he did it would have been a penalty.“
In other news, McManus has backed Liel Abada to seal ‘big’ Premier League move after Celtic update.