Rangers tantrums at Celtic controversy slammed by Keith Jackson
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.
The journalist wrote in his Daily Record column on 17 February, page 47, that there is a feeling that the SFA made a mistake with their handling of the Old Firm incident with Collum making a clear howler.
However, they did not approve Gers’ request to ask Collum to be banned from officiating games as the club have felt aggrieved by his decisions in the past as well.
Keith Jackson wrote: “There’s a feeling on Hampden’s sixth floor the SFA were too honest in the way they handled Willie Collum’s Old Firm howler.
“And furthermore, they won’t make that mistake again.
“The decision to instruct a retrospective review of the big incident at Celtic Park on December 30 did prove beyond question it would never have been a penalty in the first place, even if replays showed Alistair Johnston slapped the ball inside his own box.
“But the furore caused by subsequently releasing a graphic that showed Abdallah Sima in an offside position a split second earlier had the polar opposite of its desired intention.
“Rather than make the inner workings of VAR seem more open and transparent – the badly botched process smelled more like a cover-up than an act of good faith.
“And it resulted in Rangers throwing all manner of tantrums while jumping up and down and demanding Collum be banished from officiating their games for the rest of time.”
Rangers are in the right and Celtic know it as well
Rangers’ dissatisfaction with referee Collum’s decisions, particularly after their 2-1 defeat against Celtic, is understandable given past grievances and perceived errors.
Their request to have Collum banned from officiating their games reflects a desire for fair treatment and accountability in refereeing standards.
Jackson’s criticism of Rangers for their reaction overlooks the club’s legitimate concerns and the importance of holding referees accountable for their actions.
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.
Ultimately, this bizarre stance risks discouraging clubs from speaking out against perceived injustices, allowing governing bodies like the SFA to operate without sufficient scrutiny or accountability and if Celtic see such howlers happening even they will be appealing it.
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.
In other Rangers news, a recent £10m claim has emerged directly having long-term consequences Gers and the supporters will certainly be fuming with it.
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