Decision time for Dallas and the SFA: Miller v Collum

Will the SFA, Hugh Dallas and referee Willie Collum stand firm on the red card shown to Kenny Miller against Dundee United?

Every football club works the system as much as possible to gain advantage with the right of appeal open to Rangers since the ordering off was for violent conduct.

Overturning the decision or delaying a decision has obvious consequences with Miller facing a one match ban which would be against Celtic on Sunday.

Referee Collum had a perfect uninterupted view of the incident, if on reviewing the incident he changes his mind it must put a massive question mark over his ability to officiate at the top level.

Collum was widely praised for his split second judgement that resulted in Gary Caldwell being sent off against Hearts, a much harder call bearing in mind his position and the quickness of the incident.

The incident was typical of many in the game where players collide with arms and legs ‘accidentally’ hitting each other as they fall or get up off the ground.

Aberdeen defender Jerel Ifil was sent off for a similar incident with Georgios Samaras in the recent Celtic-Aberdeen match.

The timing and circumstances of the incident and appeal couldn’t have been worse for the SFA with a decision, or non decision, having implications for the Celtic-Rangers fixture.

It would be easy to draw comparisions to the case of Glenn Loovens where an appeal against a suspension allowed Loovens to play on with his suspension subject to appeal.

That case however was different because Loovens wasn’t disciplined during a match, his offence was highlighted by the Review Panel who have undefined powers to look into cases at a whim.

With referees under severe pressure this season the Miller/Collum incident has far reaching consequences.

If a top level referee can’t get a case of violent conduct right from 10 yards away it will be open season for clubs to appeal and criticise referees at will.

BBC highlights of Miller sending off