Willie Collum got Hibs and Rangers penalty decisions right but one red card wrong, says former top referee
Retired whistler Dermot Gallagher, who spent 15 years keeping order in English Premier League matches, now reviews key decisions in big matches for Sky Sports, and has had his say on the major flashpoints in the incident-packed Scottish Premiership encounter on Saturday.
Collum sent off Gers pair John Lundstram and Alfredo Morelos and awarded the Light Blues a first-half penalty while waving away claims from the Easter Road side for a spot-kick of their own.
Gallagher gave his thoughts on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch segment, and reckons Collum got both penalty calls right.
On Rangers’ award, following a foul by Rocky Bushiri on Antonio Čolak, he said: "[Bushiri] grabs him around the waist and if referees aren't going to penalise that, you give defenders a free role to do whatever they want. He quite clearly grabs him around the waist. It's a penalty, and a yellow card.”
After viewing Hibs’ claim after James Tavernier appeared to drag down Bushiri at a set-piece the former whistler backed Collum, suggesting that Paul Hanlon seemed to be impeding Tavernier as all three players challenged for the ball from Joe Newell’s free kick.
"There are actually two Hibs players around Tavernier,” Gallagher explained.
"There’s one behind who leans all over [Tavernier] and the referee doesn't take sides. Does he penalise the Hibs player, does he penalise Tavernier?
"He decides to play on. I thought it was a good call."
Gallagher also agreed that Morelos deserved to be sent off for catching Marijan Čabraja in the face with his arm.
"I don’t think he can have any complaints whatsoever. He actually feels him out the first time then goes at him a second time,” the ex-ref continued.
"He’s had one go, and it’s quite deliberate. The assistant