Collum admits 'good chance' ball over line in Rangers goal incident

Glasgow Times

2 days ago

The Scottish FA referee chief conceded that Nico Raskin's effort at Easter Road may have crossed the line before being cleared by Rocky Bushiri.
This incident was followed by a lengthy VAR check after Hibs had raced up the park and equalised.
However, Collum supported the decision not to award the goal due to the lack of a definitive camera angle proving the ball was over the line.
In a candid discussion on the VAR Review show, Collum suggested the ball was likely in but defended the VAR and AVAR for adhering to protocol amidst criticism for their handling of similar situations in the past.
Collum said: "Let's go back to two incidents this season first—Hibs vs Celtic, possible ball over the line, and Dundee United vs Hibs, possible handball before it goes into the goal.
"We were criticised for both of those decisions, and rightly so, because ultimately, there was no conclusive evidence.
"I know people who would look at this decision and say 'that camera angle, for me, is conclusive.'
"But the reality is, that camera angle is at an angle looking in the way, there's nothing directly in line there."
He referenced a similar incident from a World Cup match, where an angled camera shot suggested the ball was over the line, but a direct view proved otherwise.
He continued: "Can the VAR and the AVAR there categorically, 100 per cent, say the ball was over the line?
"Not for us.
"Do I think it crossed the line?
"I think there's a good chance it did.
"But can I be absolutely certain of that?
"No."
Collum acknowledged the challenging nature of the situation, noting the difficulty in making a definitive call as the ball was off the ground in the final frame before being cleared.
He said: "What doesn't help in this scenario is that the ball is not on the ground.
"I think you could make a call here if the ball was on the ground, well over, there was loads of grass between it.
"In terms of that camera angle, in terms of the ball being mid-air, can we be 100 per cent?
"We don't think we can be."