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STV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Collum backs goal-line technology and in-stadium VAR announcements
Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum says he would fully back the introduction of goal-line technology in the Premiership – and revealed talks have taken place over officials making in-stadium VAR announcements. One of the most controversial refereeing decisions of last season came on the final day when a Rangers 'goal' against Hibernian was not allowed because officials couldn't determine whether the ball had fully crossed the line at Easter Road. The decision came after a similar call in a Celtic match against Hibernian, where a goal for the champions was ruled out because it was ruled by the match officials that the ball had gone out of play before Alistair Johnston crossed for Daizen Maeda to score. Collum admitted in his VAR review show that officials had effectively guessed and couldn't be 100% certain the ball was out when they made the call. In the wake of the Easter Road incident, Rangers had called for goal-line technology to be introduced in Scottish football and Collum said that while it would not aid in all controversial line calls, it would be a benefit to his referees. 'We would be very open to it,' the refereeing chief told STV. 'We understand the financial constraints because goal line technology is very, very expensive. 'People might look at it and ask how often you would use it because, for example, the Hibs v Celtic decision, it wouldn't have helped. 'Certainly the Hibs v Rangers decision, it would have helped because that's a goalmouth decision. 'What I wouldn't say is that because we don't have one aspect of technology that we'll make excuses or say that it's impossible to call things. 'We want to make sure, even in the situations we find ourselves in, that we're always striving for improvement and looking for ways to improve. 'Of course any kind of technology that we could bring in that would help us or improve us, in terms of refereeing, we would be open to it. 'Whether it be goal-line technology, in-stadium communication either leaving the monitor or when there's a check going on for the people attending the matches in person.' No price has been put on introducing the goal-line system in Scottish football, and Collum insists it's not for him to pressure the clubs who would have to pay for it. 'That would be a decision outwith refereeing,' he said. 'It's not a decision we would make. 'We, of course, get financial support for VAR from the clubs so that would be a decision they would have to make. 'We would be in favour of goalline technology but it's not for me to decide how any finances are spent.' While that advance may still be some time away, another innovation may arrive at Scottish grounds sooner than expected. In-stadium announcements, where the referee is connected to the stadium's speaker system to explain VAR calls to supporters, has already been introduced at the top level, with some games in the English League Cup being used for a trial. Collum revealed that talks have already taken place about bringing in the change to deliver a better experience for fans. 'We've had discussions with the clubs about that,' he said. 'We would be very keen for that. 'It's another element of transparency. 'Some of the difficulty with VAR is the in-stadium experience. We think that would certainly support it. If there was a long check going on, the referee would be able to communicate that, and they could indicate the decision when leaving the monitor. You see it at the Club World Cup and other competitions. 'I'm always looking for the best product here in Scotland and I would support that. 'It's not simple but we would embrace any technology that's for the benefit of the game, the benefit of the product here in Scotland and for match officials and people involved in football. 'There's a possibility it could be this coming season. If we get the support from the clubs financially we would be able to implement that. 'We would need a period of time to train but I'm not going to rule that out.' For the time being, Collum is looking forward to the new season, after taking time to explain rule changes and interpretations to SPFL clubs, players and staff in recent weeks. As well as talking Premiership stars through the interpretation of the rules, he said he had also been listening to feedback to ensure a better understanding of footballers' opinions and perspective on decisions, to get a better understanding for his match officials. Among the new things fans, players and referees will be getting to grips with in the new season are three changes to the game. 'Double-touch' penalties will now be retaken if the player scores, with an indirect free-kick awarded to the defending team if the penalty is missed or saved. If referees touch the ball, they will hand a drop ball to the team who would have received it, rather than only resuming the game with possession to the last team that played the ball as was previously the rule. In the biggest change, and one that is to be strictly enforced, referees will now award a corner kick to the opposing team if a goalkeeper handles the ball for more than eight seconds. Collum feels that can only speed up the game and eradicate time-wasting, and feels just the existence of the rule will achieve that without referees needing to act often. 'We think it will make the game much quicker because the goalkeepers now are under pressure to release a ball,' he said. 'We'll have prepared our referees tactically for that as well, forgetting just about the decision-making, the eight seconds and punishing it. We also know there will be a lot of shorter balls at times in and around the penalty area. We need our referees to be well prepared for that. 'But, it's like any rule change, the clubs are aware of it. We've spoken to a lot of goalkeeper coaches who are saying they've already been coaching it, working at it. So, we don't think we'll see a great amount of issues with that.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Newcastle United arrive in Singapore for pre-season match with Arsenal
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes brushed aside the speculation surrounding an exit for striker Alexander Isak, whom he called a 'top player' and a 'good guy'. SINGAPORE – Whoops of delight and manic calling of players' names from about 40 supporters greeted the Newcastle United squad when they arrived at their Pan Pacific Singapore base on the morning of July 25. But all the buzz surrounding the English League Cup winners over the previous 24 hours involved one of their players who did not even board the plane bound for Singapore. Hours after Newcastle announced that their squad that left England on July 24 was missing star striker Alexander Isak due to a thigh injury, multiple UK media outlets reported that the Swede was considering an exit from the club. The noise surrounding Isak – heavily linked with a move to English Premier League champions Liverpool – meant Newcastle manager Eddie Howe probably did not have a restful flight here as his team prepare to play Arsenal on July 27 as part of the Singapore Festival of Football. And while the 47-year-old Englishman did not stop to speak to the media, he flashed a smile of acknowledgement and a thumbs up to the supporters. Most of the players, too, alighted from the bus and headed straight into the hotel, although some later interacted with fans inside. Speaking to the media later, club captain Bruno Guimaraes brushed aside the speculation surrounding Isak, whom he called a 'top player' and a 'good guy'. Said the Brazilian midfielder: 'I think he (is going) through a lot of things at the moment. Some things that I've seen are not true, but my focus at the moment is with the lads (here). Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Singapore Etomidate found in blood of 2 people involved in fatal Punggol Road accident in May: HSA Singapore More students to get Smart Buddy watches; most schools have gone cashless Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers, without facing penalties Business Microsoft Singapore managing director Lee Hui Li dies while on sabbatical Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly '(The situation with) Isak is something that I cannot control, and the club has control on it. I hope he is going to be fit again when we return to Newcastle to prepare for the new season.' England defender Dan Burn, when asked if he understood if Isak wanted to leave Newcastle, said: 'Listen, everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but I think we can just (only) control what we can control. That's a question for Alex to answer. 'He's obviously a big player for us, but we do have a lot of quality in the squad as well, obviously, bringing Anthony (Elanga, winger) in as well, which I think was a great signing.' Burn and Guimaraes were among the Newcastle players – including Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, English defender Kieran Trippier and Brazilian midfielder Joelinton – who greeted fans inside the hotel and obliged them with photos and autographs. Supporter Irfan Said, who managed to snag the signatures of four players on the back of Newcastle's famous black-and-white jersey, said: 'Trippier and Bruno were the most friendly players. 'Trippier said he had a long flight and that he was tired, but he still came and interacted with us, and was very warm to us.' On Isak not being a part of the travelling squad, the 30-year-old modeller, a Newcastle fan since 2001, said: 'Yesterday, I was angry, sad, just feeling a mix of emotions... But today I am over it. I would of course prefer him to stay, but if his mind is (elsewhere), maybe we can move on.' Howe had previously said he expected Isak to join the team for their Asia tour. Any move for the striker, who has scored 54 goals in 86 Premier League games for Newcastle in the last three seasons, would likely see the buying club having to fork out a figure upwards of £120 million (S$206.9 million). After the game against Arsenal in Singapore, Newcastle will travel to South Korea, where they will meet a K-League selection side at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on July 30, before facing fellow EPL side Tottenham Hotspur at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Aug 3. This is the Magpies' first visit here since 1996, when a side featuring Faustino Asprilla, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand thumped an S-League All-Stars team 5-0 in front of 41,000 fans at the old National Stadium. On July 23, Arsenal beat AC Milan 1-0 in the first of two games in this year's Festival of Football in front of an underwhelming 22,381 fans. Burn said he was hoping for 'big numbers' of fans at the 55,000-capacity National Stadium on July 27. 'Arsenal is going to be a tough game, it always is,' he said. 'They've had a few more days to get used to the time difference and the heat. But we're just looking forward to working hard and going out and training and preparing for the games.' Newcastle ended a 70-year trophy drought when they beat Liverpool 2-1 in the English League Cup final at Wembley in March. They went on to finish fifth in the EPL to qualify for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons.
Straits Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
After signing spree, Mikel Arteta still hopes for more Arsenal recruits ahead of new season
SINGAPORE – Having splashed out close to €150 million (S$224 million) on four new signings in the summer transfer window, Arsenal have made a bold statement of intent for the season ahead. While manager Mikel Arteta has been pleased with their recent dealings, he has urged the club to do even more as he looks to steer his side to their first major trophy since 2020. 'In terms of numbers, we are short and we have to improve the depth and quality of the squad,' said the 43-year-old Spaniard in a press conference on July 21 at the National Stadium, where they will meet AC Milan in a pre-season friendly on July 23 as part of the Singapore Festival of Football. 'There's still a long time in the window, and we are seeking, still. We are constantly looking in the market. Until that happens, we focus on the players we have and I'm very pleased with what I have seen in the last 10-15 days.' Arsenal arrived in Singapore on July 20 to kick off their pre-season tour of Asia. After the Milan match, they will conduct an open training session on July 25 at the National Stadium, where they will also meet English League Cup holders Newcastle United two days later. Having finished runners-up for the last three seasons, the Gunners are keen to shed their bridesmaid tag. Their transfer dealings have made Arteta 'super positive' about their new season, which kicks off against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Aug 19. They have signed winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, as well as midfielders Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi from Brentford and Real Sociedad respectively, with the quartet costing close to €150 million. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 workers stranded on gondola dangling outside Raffles City Tower rescued by SCDF Business Why Singapore and its businesses stand to lose with US tariffs on the region Business $1.1 billion allocated to three fund managers to boost Singapore stock market: MAS Singapore Medallions with Singapore Botanic Gardens' iconic landmarks launched to mark milestone-filled year Life WP chairwoman Sylvia Lim to publish memoir with Epigram Books in 2027 Singapore Proof & Company Spirits closes Singapore distribution business Singapore Jail, caning for man who held metal rod to cashier's neck in failed robbery attempt Singapore Fresh charge for woman who harassed nurse during pandemic, created ruckus at lion dance competition Valencia centre-back Cristhian Mosquera is expected to be their fifth summer signing, with reports suggesting that both sides have agreed a deal worth an initial £13 million for the 21-year-old Spaniard, who will provide cover for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Salibas. Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals for Sporting Lisbon last season, is also said to be close to moving to the Emirates in a deal reportedly worth over €70 million. When asked if he had an update on Gyokeres, Arteta flashed a smile but was tight-lipped about the situation. 'I cannot comment on any player who is not part of our group yet. When we have something concrete to offer in any case to any player, we will do that,' he said. Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze and Real Madrid winger Rodrygo have also been heavily linked with the Gunners. While Arteta waits for newer arrivals to come through the door, he has been delighted by their recent signings and how the club have been supportive in his efforts to beef up the squad. 'I think Andrea (Berta, Arsenal's sporting director) and the team has done an excellent job as well trying to push everything forward,' he added. 'There's a long time to go in the window, but we have our hopes that we can improve the team and we will continue to try and do that.' He likened making new signings to 'shaking the tree', while reflecting the club owners' ambition. 'Bringing new faces, they bring new excitement, new energy as well,' he said. 'We signed very important players as well. I think everybody feels that the heights have to go to a different level and it's what we are seeking.' While he was thrilled to talk about their transfer dealings, Arteta was less forthcoming on matters pertaining to a former player. At the start of the month, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022. Partey left the club at the expiration of his contract in June, before news emerged of his charges. He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing. This resulted in criticism at how the club had handled the situation. Speaking for the first time about the incident since the 32-year-old Ghanaian was charged, Arteta said: 'The club was very clear in its statement. There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated so I cannot comment on any of that.' When pressed further on whether he felt if the club followed all the right processes, he replied: '100 per cent.'
Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Arsenal's 2025-26 campaign will be ‘different', vows Gabriel
Arsenal's Gabriel and Jakub Kiwior celebrate after the win over Tottenham Hotspur last April. SINGAPORE – Nearly five years have passed since Arsenal last lifted a trophy, but their Brazilian defensive rock Gabriel Magalhaes is confident that the coming season will mark a turning point for the club. The centre-back, who recently signed a new contract keeping him at the English Premier League club until 2029, said in an interview ahead of Arsenal's pre-season trip to Singapore that the campaign will be 'different', and that he is excited by the Gunners' latest recruits. Arsenal arrived in Singapore on July 20 to kick off pre-season preparation with two friendly matches – the games are part of the Singapore Festival of Football. At the National Stadium, Mikel Arteta's men will face Italian giants AC Milan on July 23, before conducting an open training session at the same venue two days later. The Gunners will then play English League Cup holders Newcastle United on July 27. Gabriel, 27, said via a translator: 'I have been at the club for five years now, and I've seen how much the club have grown. 'I am here to win titles. I do believe that this season will be different. 'We've led a couple of titles slip through our fingers recently. We almost won (before) but I think that this year, things will be different. I have a lot of faith in that.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore 2-in-1 airport police robot on trial can patrol and serve as PMD with ride-hailing feature Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school In the 2024-25 season, Arsenal – just as they did in the season before – threatened to put together a run for the EPL title but faded away. The Gunners finished runners-up in the league, 10 points behind winners Liverpool. They were also eliminated in the third round of the FA Cup and the semi-finals of both the League Cup and Uefa Champions League. Under Arteta, Arsenal have shown progress but that has yet to translate into major silverware, with only the 2020 FA Cup triumph the lone exception since his tenure began in December 2019. When asked about the missing piece of the puzzle, Gabriel insisted it has not been for a lack of effort. He added: 'We did everything we could in the last few years. 'I feel like we had a little bit of bad luck sometimes, but we all believe that we can win big titles. The pre-season has started and we're focused on what our manager is telling us to do and what we have to do and what we have to improve. 'I think this year will be different.' The Gunners have shown a real desire and ambition in the transfer market as they look to win their first top flight title since 2004. They have added midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in a deal reportedly worth around £55 million (S$95.6 million), paid an initial fee of £10 million for Brentford captain Christian Norgaard and signed England winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea on a long-term deal worth a reported £48 million. Sweden and Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals last season, is also said to be close to joining the Gunners in a deal reported to be worth over €70 million (S$104.6 million). On the new signings, Gabriel said: 'Definitely, it excites me. We want to have the best players. So we're really happy with the players here, we're happy with the signings and we think that the club are on the right track.' Gabriel himself has proven indispensable since his £27 million move from Lille in 2020. Arsenal's drop-off in the EPL coincided with Gabriel's season-ending hamstring injury. In the eight matches he missed at the end of the season, Arsenal managed to win only thrice. He is raring to go for the new campaign, adding: 'I have been training really hard with the group already. The season is going to be full of challenges, but I already feel good to hit the ground running and play.' This will be Milan's first visit to Singapore, while Arsenal were last here in 2018 for the International Champions Cup, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. The Magpies last played in Singapore in 1996 against an S-League All-Stars team. Noting that it will be his first visit here, Gabriel said: 'We know that it's a beautiful place, but we're going to go there to prepare ourselves for the season ahead. 'We have some great games to play. We're going to focus on what our manager is going to tell us to focus on and to do. But if we have free time, we will get to know the beautiful city.'
The Herald Scotland
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Brendan Rodgers names Celtic XI for Newcastle friendly
Kasper Schmeichel starts between the sticks for the hosts with Anthony Ralston, Dane Murray, Auston Trusty and Hayato Inamura in defence. Callum McGregor captains the side in midfield alongside Luke McCowan and Arne Engels as Johnny Kenny gets the nod up top, supported by Yang and Daizen Maeda. Read more: Celtic have already played out four pre-season ties this summer, beating Queen's Park and Cork City before narrowly losing out to Estrela de Amadora. They then took on Sporting CP midweek and defeated the Portuguese champions 2-0 thanks to goals from Reo Hatate and [[Luke McCowan]]. Brendan Rodgers' men are now back in Glasgow as they welcome the current English League Cup holders to the city's east end. The last time the sides met was in 2007, as Newcastle ran out 4-1 winners at St James' Park in a friendly. Scott Brown scored the only goal for the visitors. Celtic will be hoping for a different result this time around. Confirmed Celtic starting XI: Schmeichel, Ralston, Murray, Trusty, Inamura, McGregor, McCowan, Engels, Yang, Maeda, Kenny. Subs: Sinisalo, Doohan, Clarke, Scales, Nygren, Idah, Osmand, Tilio, Bernardo, Summers, Montgomery, Hatate, McPherson, Ure, Forrest, Donovan, Tierney.
