The reason why John Souttar wasn't sent off during Rangers' 1-0 win against Hibernian last month has been explained by Willie Collum. 

Referee Nick Walsh penalised the Scotland international for a handball inside the area following a VAR check for a Hibs penalty. 

The former Hearts and Dundee United defender's arm was raised high as Mykola Kukharevych's close range effort collided with it in front of the Copland Road Stand during the Scottish Premiership encounter.

The Hibs striker would subsequently see his tame spot kick saved by Jack Butland, much to the delight of the packed out home crowd, as the hosts went on to win 1-0.

"It's a correct decision for us," said the Scottish FA's head of refereeing Collum. "It's very, very close, there's no question about that.

"But we think that the Rangers defender throws himself into a made to save the shot or block the shot at all costs. Unfortunately for him here, he's made his body bigger and it's not natural.

"It can be easier to justify a natural position when you're standing. But when you dive to block a shot, it makes it even more difficult to defend such an arm movement.

"There's also a slight arm movement, albeit I don't think it's deliberate, but I agree with the on-field referee team and the VAR team that it's not a deliberate handball, but certainly a punishable handball."

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Questions were raised among Hibs supporters and others as to why Souttar didn't see a red card for his handball close to the goal line.

Collum explained: "Here, there's every opportunity that the goalkeeper can save this shot. The fact that no card was shown could be debated.

"If the referee had deemed John Souttar's actions as deliberate, he probably would have received a yellow card for blocking a shot deliberately at such close range from the goal.

"But because the referee and the VAR team don't deem this as a deliberate handball, there's no need for a yellow card because that was removed from the laws of the game.

"We would not support a red card. this is not an obvious goalscoring opportunity because the goalkeeper has the opportunity to save this shot."

In a separate incident, from the 2-0 win over St Johnstone, Collum also agreed with the SFA's KMI panel that Aaron Essel should've been penalised for a tug on Cyriel Dessers inside the box, resulting in a Rangers penalty.

Collum said: “For us, this is the wrong decision. We expect a penalty kick here and we expect the referee to be brought to the monitor.

“We don’t regard this as a ‘small hold’ and we won’t regard this as having no impact. We believe the holding is too excessive.”