Consistency is one of the basic demands of frustrated managers when it comes to refereeing decisions.
Whether it’s bookings for after goal celebrations, kicking the ball away or any other hot topic managers look for consistent interpretations of the laws of the game.
Sunday’s Rangers-Dundee United match again highlighted the inconsistencies of referees with Dougie McDonald at the centre of attention.
Two weeks earlier he showed an impressive turn of pace to send off Scott Brown. Bobbing and weaving between players as he reached for his red card, ignoring the vantage point of his assistant referee McDonald waved the red card at Brown while overlooking Kyle Lafferty’s role in the clash.
To no-one’s surprise McDonald refused to consider Celtic’s appeal against the decision.
As Dundee United equalised against Rangers on Sunday it was difficult to believe that we were watching the same referee.
This time with a perfect view of the corner coming in from the right McDonald watches Allan McGregor frustratingly swing an arm then a leg out at United goalscorer Mihael Kovacevic after the ball hits the net.
Seeing the incident McDonald steps forward to take action but then quickly retreats for reasons best known to himself.
Maybe he had second thoughts, unlike the Brown/Lafferty incident, maybe he thought a goal was sufficient punishment, maybe he’ll contact the SFA Review Panel to look at things again. Maybe he won’t.
Why the SFA decided to send McDonald back to Ibrox two weeks after the Rangers-Celtic game requires explanation.
The referee was always gong to be under the spotlight regardless of the outcome of the league clash, putting him in charge of a cup tie and possible replay was madness.
Clearly the pressure has been getting to McDonald whose double penalty award in the first half frustrated Peter Houston.
The Dundee United manager said: “I am disappointed and I just wonder if the penalties would have been given at the other end. I hope they would have been.”
Those sentiments seemed quite similar to those of Gus MacPherson after losing to Rangers, on that occasion Charlie Richmonds inconsistencies.
The St Mirren boss said: “We watch games, we go to games and we see clips on the BBC and we see a different set of rules getting applied. None more so than when we’re coming here.”
Despite the criticism from the Celtic website of McDonald’s performasnce at Ibrox there has been no request for Celtic to explain themselves, similarly, nine days after questioning whether the referee was impartial Aiden McGeady hasn’t been called before the SFA.
If the SFA think that these issues will blow over they could be in for a surprise, giving McDonald three high profile Rangers matches to referee within four weeks doesn’t do anyone any favours.