John Bennett and James Bisgrove have blown it at Rangers ‘again’, Ibrox duo blasted over controversy
Gary Keown has blasted Rangers chiefs John Bennett and James Bisgrove for their actions after a penalty incident against Celtic caused controversy.
Tempers flared after referee Nick Walsh and VAR official Willie Collum failed to award a penalty for a handball on Alistair Johnston, which caused controversy with an offside in the build-up that was used as an excuse as to why it was not given. But the offside was not spotted until after the match’s conclusion.
The Scottish Daily Mail writer has accused Bisgrove and Bennett of being “the nutter on the bus that everyone avoids”, with some Rangers fans continuing to rage at Collum taking personal hits at the official and his family after private information was allegedly leaked.
“Their row over the penalty that never was – and never could be – was a chance for chairman John Bennett and chief executive James Bisgrove to flex their muscles and use this first big opportunity to show they are serious people at a serious club with a keen awareness of the need to reposition themselves politically to be at the centre of change,” Keown wrote for Scottish Daily Mail on Sunday (7 January, page 110).
“God, how they blew it. Seven days on from the nonsense that played out at Parkhead, Rangers continue to stand pretty much alone, shouting at passing traffic with everyone giving them a Nelson, thanks to picking entirely the wrong avenue to go down and trying to drive a juggernaut up it in reverse. Again!”
Time to move on
While Rangers continue to look behind them at a decision that never would have ever been given, Celtic have moved forward and have moved eight points ahead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The whole situation has been a poor situation for the refereeing situation in Scotland, with officials making excuses for why a certain decision was made. However, a portion of Rangers fans continue to badger an official for human error.
Human error is a part of football, even more so if VAR is not used, which many football fans argue for. But it is the manner in which the aftermath was dealt with that has caused the most issues.
However, leaking private information to a fan-run social media channel would only have one outcome. And Bennett and Bisgrove surely knew that. When it was just a matter between the club’s hierarchy and the Scottish FA, there was control and calmness, hoping to find a neutral ground.
That has been blown out of the water, now. The sooner Rangers decide to move on from this situation, the better.
In other Rangers news, a journalist has told Jim White what he’s heard about the Gers’ pursuit of a new defender.