Willie Collum reckons that Nick Walsh did get the call to send Rangers star Mohamed Diomande off against Dundee United WRONG.
It comes after the SFA released full VAR audio from the flashpoint – with whistler Walsh sticking to his on-field decision after viewing the action from Diomande as a “slap” The midfielder would win his red card appeal during the clash after the club took their case to a fast track tribunal over wrongful dismissal after the Ivorian midfielder was sent packing by Walsh in the closing stages of a 3-1 Scottish Premiership win at Tannadice.
The man in the middle was sent by VAR to the monitor to review his decision by Don Robertson in Clydesdale House after the midfielder raised his hand to United’s Kevin Holt – although the contact was negligible if not non-existent. And speaking to the SFA’s VAR Review, Head of Referee Operations Collum admitted that it was the Dundee United man who was walking a red card tightrope. The referee reckons that Holt – who was already on a booking – should have also been shown a yellow card alongside Diomande.
Asked for his take on the incident, Collum said: “We had lots of discussion about this incident. We’ve coached the match officials that we don’t think it is a red card. We agree with the viewpoint that the VAR talks about when assessing the incident about excessive force, brutality, is there contact in the face? Is it negligible? These are key phrases that I have mentioned before in this show that need to be taken into account.
“For us here, we prefer a yellow card. The referee goes to the monitor. He is entitled to stick to his decision and for him, there is a slap. For us, we would prefer a yellow card for this action.
“What I want to be clear about is that there is a clear action. There is also a clear action from the Dundee United player as well and potentially the best outcome here is a yellow card for either player for the aggressive action of both players, which happens after an initial free-kick is awarded.
“For us, this incident doesn’t have excessive force, brutality and the contact is negligible, if any. What I would say, if you go back many years ago, people talked about in the laws of the game, because it was written in the laws of the game, strikes or attempts to strike an opponent and potentially under the laws of the game with that kind of terminology you would see a different outcome, but now the threshold is about excessive force, brutality and negligible contact as well.”
Asked how they get to a point where decisions are made correctly, he continued: “By analysing incidents, by the constant coaching, we are coaching every single week.
“We are talking about how to be consistent. I really like in this clip as well about the VAR showing different angles. They are also very clear, they don’t show the first image slow-motion.
“Again, if you go back to the learning curve from Motherwell vs Kilmarnock, we say don’t show it in slow motion, show things in full speed, so we are learning. If we make mistakes – we don’t want to make mistakes, we don’t want to call things wrong – but when we call them wrong we need to learn from them.
“You are right to mention an appeal. I want to be clear that Referee Operations and my team have nothing to do with the appeals process. That is between the clubs and disciplinary. That’s right as well that our thoughts are not sought about that. That sits separately from us and we keep away from that so the right outcome is reached in terms of what they think and we don’t influence that in any shape or form. But for us here, that should have been a yellow card.”
The VAR audio in full
VAR: I’ve seen this contact here. Just run it on. I just want to see this after with Diomande and Holt.
Nick Walsh: I’m showing a red card to Diomande for violent conduct towards the face of Holt and I am sending number five for a caution.
VAR: Okay, checking the red card.
Walsh: Diomande, for striking towards the face.
Replay Operator: I’ve got it here.
Walsh: I’ll talk to the captain.
VAR: Nice and tight for me here. As Holt pushed there’s contract with the face.
Replay Operator: I’ll give you main and then I’ll give you 16.
VAR: Have you got a better angle? Ok, for me he is pushed but there I don’t see anything violent or brutality. I don’t think it’s a red card. Are you with me on that?
AVAR: It doesn’t tick any boxes.
VAR: Nick, it’s Don. I’m going to recommend an on-field review for the red card for Diomande. Okay?
VAR: Even though the arm comes out. I don’t see –
Walsh: I am looking at the right hand of Diomande.
VAR: Yeah, but as he’s pushed –
Walsh: Have you got a different angle?
VAR: Yeah, I’ve got a different angle. So just on here, but the contact for me is negligible. As he’s pushed the arm comes back, but I don’t see excessive force or brutality.
Walsh: So the swing with the right hand for you is not violent conduct?
VAR: Yeah, for me it’s not.
Walsh: Can you zoom in on the swinging action for me?
VAR: That’s the best angle we have got, the angles I have shown you.
Walsh: I see a slap towards the face so I’m going to put him off.