Dermot Gallagher gives his verdict on Celtic’s first SPFL penalty in six months

Dermot Gallagher has given his approval for the decision to award Celtic a penalty at Livingston yesterday.

Jota’s cross towards the front post came off the raised arm of Andrew Shinnie before it reached Giorgos Giakoumakis but Willie Collum was unsighted when contact was made.

Unlike the previous week against Hearts the VAR official recommended that the referee consult the pitch-side monitor, after a quick review Collum awarded Celtic their first penalty in 17 SPFL matches. Unfortunately, Giakoumakis missed with his shot striking the outside of the post.

Watching Gallagher on Sky Sports News, the Daily Record reports the former EPL referee saying:

I think it is one that we see in the Premier League regularly. The ball does strikes the hand. No doubt about it. The referee can’t see it because body is obscured. It goes to VAR, he gives a goal-kick – I can understand he can’t see it – and when he is sent to the VAR.

This is what he can’t see (Willie Collum). It is above the shoulder and that is what we talk about. Anything up there, Rob. They’ve been consistent in the Premier League and the SPFL. They’ve given them.

In the week leading up to the introduction of VAR Crawford Allan of the SFA made a number of media appearances to explain how the system would operate.

Ten days after the first match there has been no comments from Allan with no explanations over decisions appearing on the SFA website.