The Scottish FA has explained the late challenge on Kieran Tierney that left the defender needing treatment, with refereeing chief Willie Collum insisting the incident did not meet the threshold for a red card. The flashpoint came in the dying moments of Celtic’s Scottish Cup tie against Dundee at Celtic Park, where Tierney was caught by a high boot from Cameron Congreve, taking studs to the face and prompting immediate concern.
As a precaution, the Celtic defender was withdrawn, though tests later confirmed he had not suffered a concussion and he was available again for the midweek league match against Livingston. The incident sparked anger among supporters, many of whom immediately drew comparisons with the red card shown to Yang Hyun-jun at Tynecastle in a previous season for a high boot, an incident some felt involved less force than the challenge on Tierney.
In this case, however, only a yellow card was shown. Speaking on Sky Sports, Willie Collum outlined why the refereeing team and VAR concluded a booking was the correct outcome. He said: “Of course you can make a case when there’s any contact to the face. That’s why the refereeing team really need to analyse this, and the VAR team as well.”
“This is a reckless action for us. Reckless meaning yellow. Because it’s the top of the boot. But I don’t want to say that every time it’s the top of the boot, that doesn’t endanger the safety, or we would deem it always to be a yellow card. We believe there’s enough criteria here to make this challenge reckless.”
Collum added: “You need to take in all the different concepts or criteria here about speed, intensity, head on to the challenge, running from a distance to get there, not focusing on the ball, but here, I think there’s enough for us to say there’s a yellow card.”
While the explanation offers clarity on the decision-making process, it is unlikely to satisfy many Celtic supporters, particularly given the visual similarity to past red-card incidents. The judgment rested on recklessness rather than serious foul play, meaning a dismissal was not deemed justified under the laws of the game. The decision will likely be debated among fans and pundits, with some arguing that the challenge warranted a red card.