Rangers: SFA chief shares what he privately told Ibrox top-brass after Willie Collum controversy
Rangers were the subject of an “experienced decision” from Willie Collum when he dismissed a possible penalty against Celtic in December.
That is according to Scotland’s head of referees Crawford Allan, with Collum not asking referee Nick Walsh to review a possible Alistair Johnston handball.
After Collum’s intervention, images proved a penalty would not have stood as Abdallah Sima was offside moments earlier during the attacking phase of play (APP).
“It’s hard to say he made a mistake because he didn’t make a factual process error,” said Allan, as quoted by the Daily Record (15 February). “Would I have preferred if the handball had been examined through to an APP? Yes.
“But I am not going to say that Willie has done anything wrong in terms of process or an error. Willie is entitled to take a view, looking at it from every angle at full speed.
“In slow motion I think it does make it look worse, but at full speed – which Willie looked at – he made an experienced decision. I think APP should have been reviewed and the hand moving across the ball was sufficient to have that looked at for the rest of the APP. I have said that privately to the club as well.”
Rangers still furious with Willie Collum
There was, and indeed still is, plenty of hard feelings from the Ibrox club towards Collum following the incident at Celtic Park, not least because the hosts went on to win the match 2-1.
The ball certainly did hit the arm of Bhoys defender Johnston, but surely knowing that Gers ace Sima was offside in the build-up should be enough to convince the Ibrox chiefs to move on from the incident.
Since then, Philippe Clement has not wasted any time pondering the decision, with his side having caught up with their fierce rivals at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
Both clubs are now on 61 points from their 25 matches, with the blue half of Glasgow winning their game in hand against Ross County 3-1 on Wednesday (14 February).
A very exciting title race is now in store, with no room for error whatsoever for Clement or his opposite number Brendan Rodgers.
In other Rangers news, one Gers ace is now undroppable despite his 20% struggles against Ross County, which is bad news for one January signing.
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