Willie Collum has explained why Celtic’s second goal against Dundee United was correctly allowed to stand following another VAR debate at Tannadice.
Martin O’Neill’s side cruised to a 4-0 Premier Sports Cup victory, but Camilo Duran’s first Celtic goal became a major talking point after the ball struck Kasper Høgh’s arm in the build-up.
Høgh slid in attempting to reach Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross before the ball struck his arm and fell kindly for Duran to finish.
VAR checked the incident but allowed the goal to stand.
That prompted comparisons with Ben Parkinson’s disallowed goal for Falkirk against St Mirren earlier this season, with Michael Stewart questioning why the two incidents had produced different outcomes.
However, Scottish FA head of refereeing Collum provided an explanation during Premier Sports’ coverage outlining why the incidents were not considered comparable.
Presenter Emma Dodds read out Collum’s statement live on air.
It said: “The entire incident was checked, including the handball.
“The ball does strike the arm of the Celtic attacker however this is not a punishable handball, as it is a consequence of his playing action and it was completely accidental.
“The laws of the game are clear regarding handball and an immediate goal being scored, it only applies when the player who handles the ball is the one who subsequently scores.
“As it was another attacker who scored, this provision does not apply.
“I note that at half-time this was compared to the Falkirk disallowed goal. The VAR deemed that handball to be punishable in law.
“In our opinion however, these are completely different incidents and should not be considered comparable.”
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