Celtic penalty right, Hearts wrongly denied – SFA chief Willie Collum

Collum also addressed two incidents in Celtic’s 3-1 home win over Rangers on 10 May, refereed by Nick Walsh.

The visitors had claimed unsuccessfully for offside when Yang Hyun-jun equalised in a crowded penalty area and Alistair Johnston was booked for a challenge on Rangers’ Mikey Moore at 1-1.

The head of refereeing said Johnston’s tackle did not meet the “criteria” in terms of “excessive force”, “brutality” and “endangering the safety of an opponent”.

“We agree with the referee that it’s reckless,” Collum said. “We would say it’s glancing contact, it’s not full studs on the leg, bending over the leg.”

And Collum also backed the award of the Yang goal on the grounds of the goalkeeper’s line of vision and Benjamin Nygren not interfering with play.

“Jack Butland can see the shot,” said Collum. “The ball doesn’t deviate, it continues in that direction.

“Does the Celtic player, attacker who is offside in front of the goalkeeper, does he make a movement towards Butland? Does he try to make a movement towards the ball? He makes no attempt to interfere with the goalkeeper.”

Two decisions in Celtic’s 2-1 win at Hibernian on 3 May were discussed. Collum said a push by Hibernian’s Josh Campbell on Nygren, which did not result in a spot-kick, “should’ve been a penalty”.

“Josh Campbell completely ignores the ball,” said Collum. “It’s a two-handed push. This is far removed from normal footballing contact. This is too excessive for us to ignore.”

However, the award of Hibs’ equaliser after no handball was given against scorer Joe Newell was the correct call following a “thorough check”, said Collum.

“They don’t see any conclusive evidence here to say that Joe Newell has touched this with a punishable part of the arm,” he added.