Rangers could ‘damage the integrity’ of Scottish football with latest move
Rangers have thrown petrol on the fire by releasing a statement about the SFA’s decision to reinstate two VAR officials who caused controversy against Celtic earlier this month.
Willie Collum apologised to the Gers after they weren’t awarded a penalty in their Premier Sports Cup defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park.
After failing to tell John Beaton to check the foul on Vaclav Cerny – that was inside the box – VAR Alan Muir and assistant Frank Connor were removed from duties last weekend.
However, they have since been put back in action and Connor has been appointed as an assistant referee for Celtic versus St Johnstone on 29 December.
Former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett doesn’t believe the duo should be involved just yet, especially not in any games involving the two teams their initial mistake affected.
“Firstly, the Scottish FA by sanctioning both officials recognised the seriousness of the error that was made,” Hackett told Ibrox News.
“They will have determined the length of the sanction period and hopefully will have provided operational advice and support to the two officials.
“It appears that the SFA considered a one-match sanction sufficient.
“When I was boss of the PGMOL, when a major error was made, I would sanction the official by not appointing them to games.
“No public announcement was made but I’d be mindful that by not appointing them to two or three games, I was taking them out of the media spotlight allowing things to calm down
“The action by the SFA was in the public domain and focused the media attention to demonstrate a level of accountability was in force.
“Personally, I would have suggested the New Year before making an appointment.
“I would also have refrained from appointing them to either of the teams involved in the controversy.“
Rangers have since hit out at the appointment in a statement on their official website.
The Gers say that they have contacted the SFA with “serious concerns” about the speedy reinstation of the two VAR officials.
Hackett doesn’t think the Light Blues should have said anything publicly.
“There are clearly channels of communication available to Rangers where they could have expressed their concerns,” the former Premier League referee added.
“Going public does not help the situation it inflames it.
“Clubs at no stage can dictate what the sanction might be or which officials are appointed to games. That sadly would damage the integrity of the competition.
“These observations are made in the knowledge that a game in Belgium where a VAR error was made will be replayed.”
In other Rangers news, Tam McManus has hit out at the Gers after a new controversy emerged from Ibrox.
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