Rangers: ‘Furious’ SFA launch new accusation at Ibrox as private Willie Collum details leaked
The Scottish FA is “furious” at Rangers for jeopardizing the safety of referee Willie Collum as private details were leaked over an Old Firm incident, according to Daily Record.
The Gers have gunned for Collum for his part to play in their defeat in the Old Firm derby, with the VAR official rejecting claims of a penalty after Alistair Johnston handled the ball in the penalty area.
The SFA has claimed that Rangers have acted in an “underhand manner” as information was leaked to their own fans, inciting more rage over Collum’s decision not to award a penalty at Celtic Park.
The SFA released a statement, transcribed by Daily Record (5 January), saying: “We note posts from a recent official media partner of the club’s, detailing requests from the private meeting that were immediately rejected.
“We would ask that club representatives show greater responsibility in such matters, especially in the context of recent incidents in European football that have compromised the safety of match officials and led to widespread condemnation.”
It’s all gone too far
The whole situation has gone on much longer than it ever should have. Humans make mistakes, and that is exactly what has happened.
However, as replays show, it was not a mistake not to award the penalty, with Abdallah Sima caught offside during the build-up to the incident in question. While this settles all debates over the penalty itself, matters have evolved since.
Rangers fans are angry with how Collum has conducted himself since making the decision, stating that the original reason not to award the decision was for the offside, which has since been proven not to be true.
But Rangers are likely to have known what would happen when leaking information to a fan-run social media site, which is why the SFA are understandably frustrated. One of their referees is now at risk, causing his family to be involved in the current horror show.
Despite this, it is understood that Collum is set to return to officiating to take charge of the clash between Queen’s Park and Dunfermline in the Championship.
In other Rangers news, a senior player will pass his medical in the January transfer window despite a groin worry as Gers are battling Celtic to sign him.