Hibs contact SFA over Willie Collum concerns

Hibs have contacted the SFA to raise their concerns over Willie Collum.

Since Saturday’s 2-2 draw with the Ibrox Tribute Act there has been a constant flow of criticism aimed at the match referee, feeding the conspiracies of the gullibles.

Kenny Miller led the charge with an appearance on Sportscene claiming that Collum couldn’t wait to get the red card out for John Lundstram.

That comment was picked up by most publishers with Radio Scotland and the Daily Record slaughtering the performance of the referee.

Conveniently overlooked is the first flashpoint in the match when James Tavernier dragged Rocky Bushiri to the ground in the penalty box. Collum had an unobstructed view but chose not to take any action. Twenty minutes later he was quick to spot contact between Bushiri and Antonio Colak.

Picking up on Hibs’ concerns, the Edinburgh Evening News reports:

Club chiefs have contacted Head of Refereeing Operations Crawford Allan, a former top-flight official, in the wake of the encounter to highlight certain issues from the game, which was overseen by FIFA-listed whistler Willie Collum.

The Light Blues contacted Scottish football’s governing body to voice their concerns on Monday morning, as well as lodging an appeal against Lundstram’s dismissal, and Hibs have now followed suit.

One issue raised is believed to relate to the two penalty incidents in the first half of the match at Easter Road. Collum awarded a spot-kick to the Gers on the stroke of half-time after adjudging Rocky Bushiri to have fouled visiting striker Antonio ?olak in the area, with James Tavernier converting from 12 yards.

But Hibs are understood to want an explanation as to why they weren’t awarded a penalty for what they viewed as a similar foul on Bushiri by Tavernier earlier in the first period. The Rangers captain appeared to drag down the Belgian centre-back inside the 18-yard box as they challenged for an aerial ball following a set-piece but Collum waved away Hibs’ claims.

It is not the first time Hibs have sought answers from the refereeing chief. Chief executive Ben Kensell held ‘constructive talks’ with Allan in February this year, adding: “We’ll always talk to the relevant people if we feel there are things we need to address.”

Allan has so far kept quiet about a weekend of refereeing controversies, the Ibrox complaint ensures that Collum won’t be in charge of the Glasgow derby in two weeks leaving Nick Walsh or John Beaton as the likeliest candidates to referee the match.