Willie Collum hiding from apologising to Celtic after Alan Muir’s factual error

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The Celtic Star

·1. März 2025

Willie Collum hiding from apologising to Celtic after Alan Muir’s factual error

So Daizen Maeda’s second goal against Hibs should have stood, not that we needed any such clarification. What now?

Daizen Maeda scores but Alan Muir on VAR ruled it out ‘factually’. He was wrong. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

An investigation into Alan Muir? A public apology from Willie Collum? A telephone call to Brendan Rodgers from the Head of Referees?

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)

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The Scottish FA’s review panel yesterday declared that Daizen Maeda’s goal against Hibs last week should have stood, and that Alan Muir on VAR was wrong to intervene on the original verdict of his on-field colleagues.

Not that we needed any clarification as it was quite clear that there was no way to determine if the entire ball had crossed the byline before Alistair Johnston whipped in his cross from which Daizen turned into the net.

No clear and obvious error in on-field decision

No clear and obvious error took place, the official and linesman were perfectly placed to judge, and judged the goal as valid. But for some reason or another Alan Muir who a decade ago failed to spot a blatant handball on the goal line, decided to judge himself through sheer guesswork or wishful thinking.

That itself is worth an investigation into his competence to officiate at this level. If it was a certain other team who was wronged in this way, there would be a seriously long worded statement being typed up and a media witch hunt against Muir, with Willie Collum being forced into a grovelling public apology.

Why has Willie Collum not spoken to Brendan Rodgers?

Will Celtic be allowed that same treatment from Willie Collum? it cost us at least a point after all, and while the league is just about done and dusted, it doesn’t make it any less important. We were wronged, time for an investigation or at least an apology.

Brendan Rodgers. Hibs v Celtic. 22 February 2025.Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Or even better, both. Maybe even just a phone-call to Brendan Rodgers from the Head of Referees to explain Muir’s error and what will be the consequences for his mistaken guesswork at Easter Road.