George Overhill

Sat 7 January 2023 8:10, UK

Kris Boyd genuinely fears somebody being attacked in the street over “guff” accusations of anti-Celtic corruption after the derby with Rangers.

Following the 2-2 Old Firm draw at Ibrox on 2 January, in which a penalty wasn’t awarded by John Beaton for a supposed handball by Connor Goldson, there has been all manner of fallout throughout the week.

While some has been in good humour, Sky Sports pundit Boyd believes the level to which the claims of a conspiracy against the Hoops has gone is putting officials in physical danger.

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou claimed there would be uproar if the same penalty decision had gone against Rangers at the other end [Scottish Sun, 6 January], while former Bhoys striker Chris Sutton has been characteristically vocal about it [Daily Record, 4 January].

But in his Scottish Sun column Boyd dismissed both, saying of the Australian boss: “Ange Postecoglou has even chipped in, claiming everyone would have been up in arms if the spot-kick incident had been at the other end of the pitch.

“Where has he been this past week, the moon? Because all I’ve heard and listened to is moans and groans about how wronged Celts were.

“Ange insists he’s only thinking of the teams in danger of being relegated because this could affect them down the line. Sure he is.

“Let’s get it right. This is just another attempt to keep the Celtic supporters riled into believing the world is against them.”

On Sutton he added: “My big pal Chris Sutton is always blaming someone.

“Remember how he accused Dunfermline’s players of lying down to Gers on the last day of the 2002-03 season?

“He wasn’t moaning about penalties as Celtic lost the title when Alan Thompson got one and booted it over the bar at Kilmarnock.

“I’m sick and tired of the conspiracy theories that get bandied about by Hoops fans and former players,” he said, while cautioning against the threat to referees if someone takes the belief too far.

War of words

Nobody particularly expects Celtic to be delighted that they didn’t get the decision but there comes a point where you have to swallow it and move on.

It isn’t even as if they lost the game, with the late Kyogo equaliser rescuing a point against the run of play, and they are still firmly in the driving seat for the title.

Rangers aquitted themselves well on the day, with Michael Beale clearly having had an affect on this side since his November arrival.

On another occasion a referee may have given it and the VAR would have kept out of it as well, so the system and the rules are open to criticism for being obtuse for sure.

But there is a huge gap between counter-intuitive officiating guidelines backing up a judgment call in a tight game, and a full blown campaign of corruption.

Arguing over the outcomes with rivals is all part of football, but obviously physical harm is a completely different matter and is unacceptable whoever is perpetrating it.

It is ultimately a game, no matter how strong the emotional response, and Boyd is right when he suggests the corruption is pretty ineffectual if Celtic have won 10 of the past 11 titles.

The Bears could, and probably should, have won the game at Ibrox regardless of the penalty appeal suggesting that a rebalancing in the SPFL may be under way under Beale, which is exactly what the club needed.

In other Rangers news, Sutton was full of praise for one Brilliant Gers player from the derby draw.