WILLIE COLLUM will be the man in charge of Celtic’s continued defence of their League Cup when they meet Kilmarnock in the semi-final at Hampden on Saturday evening.
Collum was the VAR official who failed to instruct match offical John Beaton to review the flashpoint at Ibrox last week when central defender Connor Goldson clearly handled an effort from Carl Starfelt.
The incident occurred in the 64th minute with the Hoops trailing 2-1.
Beaton failed to detect the blatant incident while Collum, watching on multi-screens in a Glasgow studio, did not think it warranted a second look.
NO INFRINGEMENT…Connor Goldson blocks Carl Starfelt’s shot with both hands.
Justice was done when Kyogo Furuhashi clipped in the leveller in the 88th minute to maintain the champions’ nine-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle.
Collum, incidentally, has awarded Ange Postecoglou’s side one of only two penalty-kicks they have earned in the SPFL ths season.
He missed the original infringement in the match against Livingston in West Lothian on October 30 when Andrew Shinnie blocked a cross from Filipe Jota, but got it right after being told to check the touchline monitor.
A WORD IN YOUR EAR…Willie Collum has something to say to a bemused Sead Haksabanovic.
SPOT OFF…Giorgos Giakoumakis fluffs his penalty-kick against Livingston with referee Willie Collum looking on.
The Hoops were already 2-0 ahead with only seven minutes of the regulation 90 to be played.
Giorgos Giakoumakis took the responsibility and timidly hit a woeful spot-kick off the outside of the keeper Jack Hamilton right-hand post.
Jota made the final scoreline 3-0 with a neat effort from close range three minutes from time.
Aaron Mooy showed Giakoumakis how to take a penalty-kick when he sunk one from the spot in the 4-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road last month.
HAND BALL…Hibs defender Lewis Stevenson blatantly halts a crossball with Liel Abada ready to pounce.
SPOT ON…Aaron Mooy makes no mistake to make it 3-0 for the Hoops at Easter Road.
Referee Alan Muir gave the award after a glaring hand ball by Lewis Stevenson in the 58th minute with the visitors already 2-0 ahead.
With Collum the man with the whistle for the last-four showdown at the national stadium – now rebranded the Viaplay Cup – Greg Aitken has been named the VAR official.
Nick Walsh will be the referee for the second semi-final between Aberdeen and Michael Beale’s Ibrox side at the same venue the following afternoon. Alan Muir will be in charge of technology.
