Rangers tantrums at Celtic controversy slammed by Keith Jackson.
Keith Jackson criticized Rangers’ reaction to referee Willie Collum following their 2-1 loss to Celtic on December 30.
According to a journalist’s piece in the Daily Record (February 17, page 47), the SFA’s handling of the Old Firm incident was flawed, with Collum making a clear mistake.
However, they denied Gers’ request to have Collum banned from judging games since the club had previously been dissatisfied with his rulings.
Keith Jackson wrote: “There’s a feeling on Hampden’s sixth floor that the SFA were too honest in their handling of Willie Collum’s Old Firm howler.
“They will not make that mistake again.
“The decision to order a retrospective assessment of the major incident at Celtic Park on December 30 demonstrated without doubt that it would never have been a penalty in the first place, even if replays proved Alistair Johnston whacked the ball inside his own area.
“However, the uproar produced by the subsequent release of a graphic depicting Abdallah Sima in an offside position a split second earlier had the polar opposite of its intended purpose.
“Rather than making the inner workings of VAR appear more open and transparent, the failed procedure smelled more like a cover-up than a good faith effort.
“And it resulted in Rangers throwing all manner of tantrums while jumping up and down and demanding Collum be banished from officiating their games for the rest of time.”
Rangers are in the right and Celtic know it as well
Rangers’ frustration with referee Collum’s rulings, especially following their 2-1 loss to Celtic, is reasonable considering previous grievances and perceived errors.
Their plea to prohibit Collum from officiating their games indicates a desire for fairness and accountability in refereeing standards.
Jackson’s criticism of Rangers’ reaction ignores the club’s valid concerns and the significance of holding referees responsible for their decisions.
Repeated instances of questionable refereeing can damage belief in the game’s fairness, and Rangers, like any other team, have the right to complain and seek remedy.
Jackson’s disregard of their concerns goes against the principles of fair play and transparency in football governance.
If referees routinely make mistakes or exhibit bias, clubs will naturally seek methods to safeguard their interests.
Finally, this unusual strategy risks stopping clubs from speaking out against perceived injustices, leaving regulating
organizations like the SFA to operate without proper scrutiny or accountability, and if Celtic observe such errors, they will appeal.
Collum does not appear to be permanently barred from Gers games, but the SFA will be more cautious with future appointments.
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