Willie Collum Aims to Revive Scottish Refereeing

Willie Collum, the new head of refereeing for the Scottish Football Association (SFA), has pledged to restore Scottish officials to major tournaments following their absence from Euro 2024, expressing personal 'hurt' over the situation. He aims to improve the standards of refereeing, enhance communication with fans, and increase transparency regarding decision-making in matches, including the potential for referees to be mic’d up during games to explain VAR calls. Collum is also advocating for a more football-oriented interpretation of the handball rule and seeks to foster better dialogue between referees and team captains. He emphasizes the need for support for referees to regain their place in European football, citing recent appointments to UEFA fixtures as a sign of improvement. With a commitment to involving former players to enrich referees' understanding of the game, Collum is determined to drive positive change in Scottish officiating. His vision includes regular public explanations of officiating decisions to build trust and understanding with fans.