Willie Collum: New Scottish referees chief on VAR, ‘mobbing’, handball and ex-players

Collum admitted the way the handball rule was interpreted in Scotland last season compared with some other countries caused some controversy.

“If you look at certain countries in Europe, I’m not saying it should be, but if you go to Spain, almost every handball is punished there,” he pointed out.

“There was a difference last season in interpretation with our colleagues in England.”

However, repeating what he said in Friday’s media briefing, Collum explained: “We want to make that much more related to football expectation.

“There won’t be as many interventions for handball.”

Meanwhile, referring to a red card shown to Kilmarnock’s Joe Wright for a handball on the goalline against Rangers at Ibrox in May, Collum said: “Not an intentional handball but a punishable handball last season was a red card. This season, it will be a yellow card.”