Willie Collum’s VAR Review conveniently ignores Hatate penalty incident

Willie Collum has given his verdict on four big calls during Celtic’s Premier Sports League Cup semi-final clash against theRangers, but conveniently offered no analysis of Reo Hatate’s penalty incident…

The boot of Auston Trusty of Celtic catches Jack Butland of theRangers in the head, leading to a yellow card during the Premier Sports Cup Semi Final match between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden Park on November 02, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

First up, the one we all keep hearing about nearly two weeks on. Celtic defender Auston Trusty received a first-half yellow card after his boot seemed to make contact with Jack Butland’s head.

“The on-field decision is a yellow card for a reckless action by Trusty,” referee Nick Walsh stated right after the incident which VAR Steven McLean had a look at and came to the same conclusion.

During an appearance on Sky Sports’ VAR Review Show for November, Scottish FA Head of Refereeing Willie Collum commented on the decision and said: “We can support the yellow card here in terms of the criteria in the laws of the game.” (Incidentally that is the point that The Celtic Star has made all along).

“It’s important to say that there’s a subjective element to this decision. And we fully respect people’s opinion if they think that’s a red card. But here, the on-field communication is very clear from the referee.

“The referee comes to the conclusion that this is a reckless action, rather than anything more serious. The VAR look at the images, and they don’t see anything other than that.”

Collum then referred to the rules surrounding violent conduct. “We don’t think this is a challenge for the ball,” he added. “This falls under violent conduct. What the referee and the VAR team then have to consider: excessive force, brutality.

“The referee comes to the conclusion that there’s not enough force, and not enough brutality for him, and the contact is negligible. So, that’s why a yellow card is reached for reckless.”

Collum also agreed with Walsh’s on-field calls regarding Thelo Aasgaard’s straight red following his shocking tackle on Anthony Ralston.

The SFA Head of Refereeing insisted that Derek Cornelius’ lunge on Johnny Kenny was a yellow card because point of contact was on boot rather than ankle.

Despite saying theRangers were right to be awarded a penalty for a handball against Ralston late in the second half, Collum stated that the Celtic right-back was correctly not punished with a caution.

However, there was no analysis on the blatant Reo Hatate penalty incident which seems to have been airbrushed from history, conveniently enough for Collum and his Scottish FA chums.

Hatate controls the ball, Rangers player takes him out.
No penalty awarded.
Nothing mentioned.
No analysis.
Nothing. pic.twitter.com/pZQe1oGEeY

— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) November 4, 2025

Conor Spence

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