Celtic defender Colby Donovan avoided a red card for a heavy challenge on Dundee United's Zac Sapsford, a decision that has been branded "inexplicable" by two former referees and has sparked questions over VAR intervention and SFA coaching.
The 20-year-old right-back caught Sapsford with a high challenge while Celtic trailed 2-1 at Celtic Park, with referee Steven McLean showing a yellow card. VAR official Chris Graham and the off-field team reviewed the flashpoint but backed the on-field decision.
Similar Challenges, Different Outcomes
Liam Scales later equalised for Celtic, keeping the Hoops four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. However, comparisons were drawn to a red card issued to St Johnstone's Kai Fotheringham against Rangers the previous weekend.
Fotheringham was sent off at Ibrox after VAR sent referee Chris Graham to the monitor for a similar challenge on Nico Raskin. Speaking to BBC Sportscene, former Celtic midfielder Scott Allan noted the similarities: "For me, it's very similar to Kai Fotheringham's for St Johnstone at the weekend, albeit I don't think he makes the same amount of contact."
Allan added: "I think he does nick the calf, and I think a lot of Dundee United fans will be asking for a bit of consistency. But I don't think he catches him with the same amount of momentum."
Questions Over VAR Consistency
Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson questioned why VAR did not intervene in Donovan's case: "I suppose all the principles of the challenge are exactly the same, though, and if VAR intervened on Saturday why didn't it intervene there? I think that's a question a lot of people, certainly Kai Fotheringham, will be asking."
Allan concluded: "I am looking at it, and it's probably because of the boot. Kai Fotheringham's full boot was on the leg, and I think Colby Donovan just gets away with one there."
SFA Coaching Questioned
Former referees Steve Conroy and Des Roache also flagged a challenge that saw a red card overturned. Kilmarnock's George Stanger was shown a straight red by referee Calum Scott against Motherwell earlier this month, but VAR checked the incident and the card was downgraded to yellow.
Posting on The Ref's View podcast X account, the duo said: "Over the past weeks we've seen very similar tackles made by Stanger, Fotheringham and Donovan with 3 different outcomes (six, including VAR). We seem unable to punish bad fouls when it happens. Bad enough the refs miss it but inexplicable that VAR does with repeated viewings. What's being coached?"
Former Premier League referee chief Keith Hackett offered support for the match officials, telling Football Insider: "The referee judged this challenge as reckless, hence the yellow card. During the challenge, the offender's body was always in contact with the ground. It is that fact and reason why the player got a yellow and not a red card, albeit his leading leg going into the challenge was high. It's a yellow card, close to a red, but one that falls just short. I'll support the referee on this one."
