Clark answers the call to defend Collum- Scottish football’s Special One
Both teams had strong grounds for complaint as the Special One of Scottish refereeing finishes the year in the manner he started it.
In January Kenny McLean and Stephen McManus successfully appealed against red cards issued by Collum, on Saturday both teams had penalties awarded against them that just didn’t happen.
Danny Wilson sent Will Vaulks crashing to the deck at least a yard outside the penalty box, late in the game the Lanarkshire referee was the only person on the ground to see Blair Alston ‘handle’ a shot inside the penalty box.
Despite his woeful track record and general coldness to the game Collum appears to be able to do no wrong as his assent continues with his Euro 2016 appointment further fueling his ego.
Collum’s defence force claim that he makes the brave decisions- ignoring the fact that he gets those calls consistently wrong. Collum makes decisions that aren’t necessary, in both of Saturday’s incidents barely a word of criticism would have been heard if neither penalty had been awarded.
When all other arguments to defend the indefensible are used up it’s time to take the heat of Collum and put the blame on the players.
Right on cue Clark tells readers of his column in the Sun: “Fact is the Bairns scored their penalty and Rangers missed theirs and that’s why they lost that game — NOT because of the decisions Collum made during it.
“Championship games are arguably tougher than Premiership ones to referee, with so much at stake right now.
“Both Rangers and Hibs are desperate for any edge they can get over each other as things stand.
“They know small matters like goal difference could be crucial when it comes to the end of the season.
“So when calls do go their way they are great, and when they don’t there are howls of protest. And it is going to be like that from now until the title is decided.
“Sure, Collum will know now that Wilson’s challenge on Will Vaulks was outside the box but I can see why he thought it was inside when the incident happened at full speed.
“Warburton wanted to know if that was indeed the case then why didn’t he send Wilson off? And the answer to that is that it wasn’t a direct goalscoring opportunity.
“Vaulks was heading towards the corner of the box, he wasn’t about to pull the trigger. So I can see why Wilson was only shown a yellow.
“As for the Rangers penalty, again at full speed it is difficult to see what happened. As always in these situations it comes down to the referee’s interpretation.
“Collum thought Blair Alston had moved his arm towards the ball as he tried to get it under control. And that’s the reason he pointed to the spot once more.
“It was a dramatic end to a strange week for Collum.”
And there are bound to be more strange weeks, angry players, upset managers and frustrated supporters as the Willie Collum Show goes into 2016 with those that understand the game given the same excuses with the France 2016 held up to defend the indefensible.