(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Sat 21 March 2026 9:35, UK

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Celtic midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was fortunate not to have been shown a red card in their win over Motherwell last week.

That is according to the Scottish FA’s Head of Referee Operations Willie Collum, who has re-analysed footage of the Englishman’s challenge on Elijah Just from the Bhoys’ recent win over Motherwell.

The audio from the VAR review of the incident has also been revealed, with VAR official Kevin Clancy suggesting that the tackle was not strong enough to warrant serious foul play, and didn’t “endanger the safety” of the Motherwell man.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was shown a yellow card for the incident, but Collum has acknowledged that had referee John Beaton pulled out a red card at the time, then the VAR review would have been unlikely to overturn that call.

Celtic went on to beat Motherwell 3-1 in what was a crucial victory in their bid to retain the Scottish Premiership title, while Oxlade-Chamberlain also escaped a possible suspension for this weekend’s trip to Dundee United.

Willie Collum delivers ‘orange card’ verdict on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s challenge came in just the seventh minute of last week’s action at Celtic Park, and it could have drastically changed the course of the game had he been given his marching orders.

Instead, the former Liverpool man remained on the pitch for over 75 minutes, as he helped Martin O’Neill’s side to recover from going behind to claim what was ultimately a commanding victory.

Celtic are now just two points behind leaders Hearts ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures, but Collum has been keen to emphasise that the decision could easily have gone the other way last week.

Speaking on the latest edition of the Scottish FA’s VAR Review show on YouTube, the 47-year-old suggested that Oxlade-Chamberlain’s tackle fell under the guise of what officials call an “orange card.”

“We would describe this as a high-end yellow or orange card,” the former referee said.

“I couldn’t stand here and say that people who think this is a red card are categorically wrong. We see the foot going onto the side of the leg and coming down the sock; it’s not studs completely onto the leg and bending the leg forward.

“The description of the ref giving the yellow card, is there something clear here that would bring the referee to the monitor to upgrade it? I don’t think so.

“But I could also see that if the ref had given the red card on the field, we would have had check completed on that decision as well.”

Jens Berthel Askou ‘high’ on Celtic list

Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou is “high” on the Celtic board’s list of candidates to become their next permanent manager.

The club hierarchy are set to make their next permanent appointment in the summer, as they finally prepare to say goodbye to O’Neill after his second interim spell of the season.

Berthel Askou and Roberto Martinez have emerged as the two leading candidates to be handed the reins in recent weeks, although links with Robbie Keane have also begun to intensify.

Berthel Askou has received plenty of plaudits for his achievements in his debut Scottish Premiership campaign this season, given that Motherwell are widely regarded as one of the most aesthetically pleasing teams in the league.

That appears to have caught the interest of the chiefs at Celtic Park, and could easily lead to a deal being struck ahead of next term.