Willie Collum clarifies Celtic penalty given against Kilmarnock

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The Celtic Star

·11 Oktober 2025

Willie Collum clarifies Celtic penalty given against Kilmarnock

SFA Head of Refereeing Willie Collum has provided an explanation for the penalty awarded to Celtic during their Scottish Premiership encounter against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park last month…

Benjamin Nygren looks on as James Forrest’s shot is blocked. Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

In stoppage time, Killie defender Lewis Mayo was deemed to have handled the ball. Although no penalty was given by referee John Beaton on-field, a VAR review led to Kelechi Iheanacho stepping up from the spot — and he converted to secure a massive three points for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

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Speaking on the latest edition of the VAR Review Show, Collum said: “It’s a really debatable incident, this. “The big thing for the VAR here is about the arm being up.

“If the shot goes direct here, and hits Lewis Mayo without a deflection, it’s 100 per cent a penalty kick. Even in this situation with this deflection, in law, you can justify the penalty.”

Although Collum supported the decision at the time, he clarified that similar incidents will no longer lead to a penalty under the updated interpretation of the rules.

“However, Gordon [Duncan], I’ve said from day one, we’ve spoken about stakeholders’ views. Nobody accepted this. The feeling is that this should not be punished going forward. Moving forward, if this exact same decision happened again, we do not want to award a penalty kick.”

So there we have it, after all the moaning done by Stuart Kettlewell, Collum agrees that VAR intervention from Matthew MacDermid was the correct implementation of the laws of the game.

Referees in Scotland have been fairly consistent this season with handballs in the penalty area and this was no different. It caused controversy, but despite the debate that surrounded the decision, Collum supports the judgement that was made.

Stuart Kettlewell at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Stakeholders, which includes players, managers and referees have since been consulted that if this type of incident occurs again then it should not be given as a penalty. But, the rules were the rules in September, and a penalty was correctly awarded. The matter is now closed. No doubt though Kettlewell will bring it up once or twice before the end of the season.

Conor Spence

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

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Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

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