NafisaCeltic’s controversial goal against Dundee United has taken another twist after Scottish FA Head of Referees Willie Collum confirmed that the ball did strike the arm of a Celtic attacker during the build-up.
The incident immediately sparked debate at Tannadice, with VAR taking a closer look before eventually deciding that the goal should stand.
Given the growing arguments surrounding the decision, the Scottish FA has now provided a detailed explanation of exactly what happened — and why the handball did not mean Celtic’s goal had to be disallowed.
Celtic went on to win the Premier Sports Cup tie 4-0, but the handball controversy threatened to overshadow an otherwise impressive night for Martin O’Neill’s side.
Scottish FA admits the ball hit Celtic attacker’s hand
Camilo Duran scored his first competitive goal for Celtic during the comfortable victory, but there was an apparent handball in the build-up.
The incident was checked by VAR, with the stadium announcement initially stating that officials were investigating a possible foul on the Dundee United defender.
However, the review also examined whether the ball had struck the Celtic attacker’s arm.
It had.
Collum has now confirmed that point.
But that does not automatically make the incident an offence under the laws of the game.
In a statement to Premier Sports, Collum said:
“The entire incident was checked, including the handball.
“The ball clearly strikes the hand of the Celtic attacker, however this is not a punishable handball as it is a consequence of his playing action and is completely accidental.”
That distinction is at the heart of the entire controversy.
The Scottish FA is effectively saying that yes, the ball touched the Celtic player’s hand — but the contact itself was not punishable.
Why was Celtic’s goal allowed?
The crucial detail relates to who ultimately scored the goal.
Collum explained that the specific handball offence concerning an immediate goal only applies when the player who handles the ball is the player who subsequently puts the ball into the net.
That did not happen here.
“The laws of the game are clear regarding handball and an immediate goal being scored. The offence only applies when the player who handled the ball is the one who subsequently scores.
“As another attacker scored, this provision does not apply.”
In other words, the officials did not award Celtic the goal because they wanted to favour the Parkhead club.
The goal was allowed because, according to the Scottish FA’s interpretation of the laws, the accidental handball did not meet the threshold for an offence.
That is a rather important distinction.
Scottish FA rejects Falkirk comparison
The Tannadice incident was also compared with the controversial Falkirk goal that was ruled out earlier in the Premiership season.
Collum addressed that comparison directly, insisting the two incidents should not be treated as identical.
“We note that at half time this was compared to the Falkirk disallowed goal from week one (in the Premiership). The VAR deemed that handball to be punishable by law.
“In our opinion however, these are completely different incidents and should be considered comparable.”
The Scottish FA therefore believes the officials were correct to reach different conclusions in the two situations.
That will not necessarily end the debate, particularly among supporters and pundits who have questioned the consistency of handball decisions in Scottish football.
But Collum’s statement makes the governing body’s position clear.
Celtic can move on from controversy
Whatever supporters make of the explanation, Celtic ultimately enjoyed a convincing night at Tannadice.
Dundee United hit the woodwork five times, yet Celtic were ruthless at the other end and secured a 4-0 victory to progress in the Premier Sports Cup.
The result also gave O’Neill valuable minutes for new arrivals Haissem Hassan and Benjamin Baur, who could now be involved against LASK in Wednesday’s crucial Champions League play-off.
The controversial goal will undoubtedly continue to generate discussion.
But the Scottish FA’s explanation is clear: the ball did hit the Celtic attacker’s hand, but the contact was accidental and the player who handled the ball was not the one who scored.
So while the decision may have enraged some rivals, the governing body’s position is that Celtic were not given the goal as a favour — the goal was awarded because the handball was not considered punishable under the relevant law.
Nafisa
