Keith Jackson has taken a shot at Rangers for their tantrums after their 2-1 defeat against Celtic on 30 December with regards to referee Willie Collum.
There is a perception that the SFA handled the Old Firm situation improperly, with Collum clearly making a
mistake, the journalist noted in his Daily Record column on February 17, page 47.
They did not, however, agree to Gers’ request that Collum be prohibited from refereeing games because the team
had previously been disappointed with his choices.
There’s a perception on Hampden’s sixth floor that the SFA handled Willie Collum’s Old Firm howler too candidly,
according to Keith Jackson’s writing.
They also promise not to repeat that error.
“Even if replays proved Alistair Johnston slapped the ball inside his own box, the decision to order a retrospective
review of the major incident at Celtic Park on December 30 did prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that it would
never have been a penalty in the first place.
However, the uproar that resulted from the subsequent release of a graphic that only a moment before appeared to
show Abdallah Sima offside had the exact opposite effect from what was intended.
The severely flawed procedure smelled more like a cover-up than an act of good faith, rather than improving the
appearance of openness and transparency regarding the inner workings of VAR.
And as a result, the Rangers started to act out in a variety of ways, jumping up and down, and asking that Collum
be prohibited from refereeing their games going forward.
Rangers are in the right and Celtic know it as well
Given previous complaints and alleged mistakes, Rangers’ discontent with referee Collum’s rulings is
understandable, especially following their 2-1 loss to Celtic.
They want fairness and accountability in refereeing practices, which is why they want to prohibit Collum from
officiating their games.
Jackson’s criticism of the Rangers’ response ignores the club’s justifiable worries as well as the significance of
making referees answerable for their conduct.
Repeated instances of controversial officiating can erode trust in the fairness of the game and Rangers, like any
other club, have the right to voice their grievances and seek redress.
Jackson’s dismissal of their concerns undermines the principle of fair play and transparency in football
governance.
If referees consistently make errors or show bias, it’s natural for clubs to seek measures to protect their interests.
In the end, this absurd position runs the risk of deterring clubs from raising concerns about alleged injustices and
enabling regulatory organisations like the SFA to function with no oversight or accountability. If Celtic notices
similar blunders occurring, they may even file an appeal.
It does not seem like Collum will permanently be banned from Gers games but the SFA will at least be more
careful with their appointments now.
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