Willie Collum runs rule over two major Rangers VAR calls

Willie Collum has backed two major VAR decisions involving Rangers.

The Scottish FA referee chief even branded one call as the “perfect use” of the technology as a decision was overturned.

In the VAR Review, Collum analysed incidents in the matches between Rangers and St Mirren and then Hearts and Rangers.

Clinton Nsiala was not penalised for an alleged shove in the box despite appeals for a penalty from Hearts, while Hamza Igamane had a red card downgraded to a yellow for a tackle on St Mirren’s Mark O’Hara.

The KMI panel deemed that Hearts should have had a penalty for Nsiala’s push in the box, but Collum insists he was content with the decision not to recommend a review.

He explained: “If you look at the KMI panel, they favoured a penalty, three-two in favour, so it shows you the subjective nature of this.

“The referee is in an excellent position and is clear and emphatic in his communication and we want that.

“For us, this would be a case of VAR re-refereeing the match to get involved here.

“We are content, not enough for us in terms of a penalty kick. We are content with this decision for no penalty but there are subjective elements to this decision.”

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Meanwhile, Collum was thrilled by the use of VAR in the Igamane red card incident.

The striker had initially been shown a straight red for a lunging tackle but this was downgraded as VAR officials recommended a review as contact was made by the trailing leg and the safety of the opponent was not endangered.

Collum said: “The VAR and AVAR go into a really detailed check, they know why the referee has sent the player off, serious foul play, and the referee describes a lunging tackle.