Celtic: Willie Collum reacts as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain red card footage re-analysed with VAR audio
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Football Insider or go back to LFC Live.
(Credit: Imago) Sat 21 March 2026 9:35, UK Celtic midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was fortunate not to have been shown a red card in their win over Motherwell last week. Oxlade-Chamberlain was shown a yellow card for the incident, but Collum has acknowledged that had referee John Beaton pulled out a red card at the time, then the VAR review would have been unlikely to overturn that call.
VISIT THE CELTIC MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Willie Collum delivers ‘orange card’ verdict on Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainOxlade-Chamberlain’s challenge came in just the seventh minute of last week’s action at Celtic Park, and it could have drastically changed the course of the game had he been given his marching orders. StatsCeltic TotalLeague RankFouls per game11.79thYellow Cards54=9thRed Cards2=7thCeltic’s disciplinary record this season, compared to other Scottish Premiership teams.Celtic are now just two points behind leaders Hearts ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures, but Collum has been keen to emphasise that the decision could easily have gone the other way last week.
Speaking on the latest edition of the Scottish FA’s VAR Review show on YouTube, the 47-year-old suggested that Oxlade-Chamberlain’s tackle fell under the guise of what officials call an “orange card.”“We would describe this as a high-end yellow or orange card,” the former referee said. I don’t think so. 🗣️ "We've seen them given"🗣️ "He shouldn't need to go to VAR to say that it's a penalty"James McFadden and Kris Boyd analyse some of the big calls from Celtic's 3-1 victory over Motherwell ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/2asny1r8RZ— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 15, 2026 View Tweet “But I could also see that if the ref had given the red card on the field, we would have had check completed on that decision as well.”Jens Berthel Askou ‘high’ on Celtic listFootball Insider revealed earlier this week that Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou is “high” on the Celtic board’s list of candidates to become their next permanent manager.The club hierarchy are set to make their next permanent appointment in the summer, as they finally prepare to say goodbye to O’Neill after his second interim spell of the season.