Willie Collum gives verdict on Julian Araujo booking in latest VAR Review

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·17 de janeiro de 2026

Willie Collum gives verdict on Julian Araujo booking in latest VAR Review

Willie Collum has revealed his thoughts on the challenge involving Celtic defender Julian Araujo during last weekend’s Premiership clash with Dundee United…

Martin O Neill with Julian Araujo. Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, 10 January 2026. Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

The incident – which resulted in Julian Araujo being cautioned rather than dismissed – has since been supported by SFA head of refereeing, Willie Collum.

Vídeos OneFootball

Collum acknowledged the foul was careless and forceful, but insisted it did not meet the threshold required to classify it as serious foul play.

Celtic went on to secure a comfortable 4–0 victory in Martin O’Neill’s first match back in charge on an interim basis, yet the flashpoint arrived shortly before half-time when Araujo mistimed a tackle on United winger Will Ferry.

Referee Nick Walsh Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 10 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

Referee Nick Walsh opted for a yellow card, and VAR officials Andrew Dallas and Gavin Duncan reviewed the footage without advising an on-field review or escalation of the sanction.

The decision sparked criticism from Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin and drew strong reactions from former referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy, who argued the challenge warranted a sending-off.

Audio released from the VAR review process shows the officials agreeing that Walsh’s original call was appropriate so the correct decision.

Match official Willie Collum arrives at the stadium prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Collum later clarified that contact was judged to have been made with the upper part of the boot rather than in a manner that endangered the opponent, which ultimately influenced the final ruling.

Speaking on the new VAR Review Show on YouTube, Collum said: “There is enough here to say that the tackle is reckless rather than endangering the safety [of an opponent]or serious foul play. You could argue he [Araujo] enters the challenge in a dangerous way but the arrival point of contact is clearly on the boot.”

“I think the VAR footage really helps us analyse this. If you watch that normal footage, you are probably leaning more towards a red card because the perception is the studs make contact with the shin, and they don’t.”

Collum added: “It is very close and if they did, it’s a red card for us. The point of contact saves the player. That’s why when we spoke to them in pre-season, we told them to be careful and take responsibility when you enter tackles.”

“It is high-end reckless for us and a yellow card is correct. It’s reckless simply because of the contact on the top of the boot. But we need to be careful as a slight bit of difference there and we have a different scenario and a different outcome.”

Conor Spence

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