Michael Beale has issued a strangely timed plea about the impact on a referee of having no away fans attend the Glasgow Derby.
The Ibrox boss did his media rounds after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Dundee United, speaking to broadcasters, Sunday newspapers and daily newspapers.
Those comments surfaced at the appropriate time, on Tuesday morning at 10am the SFA announced that Kevin Clancy would referee Saturday’s match at Celtic Park.
Without mentioning Clancy, in an interview with The Sun published at 10.30pm last night Beale said:
It impacts it because it’s very hostile when you go. I think the referees are under a huge amount of pressure. Even having just a few fans is better than none, I would say.
You’d always rather some fans, even if it was only a small amount. I just think it adds to the flavour of the game and, again, the pressure it puts on the referee if you have a large crowd in favour of one team.
Clancy has previously been in charge of the Glasgow derby three times with Celtic losing all three.
With Celtic nine points ahead with eight matches left to play anything other than an away win will leave Ange Postecoglou’s side as very strong favourites to win the SPFL for the second season running.
Clancy was in charge at Ibrox in August 2021, Celtic Park December 2019 and Ibrox May 2019 with Celtic losing all three matches.
But the away side will have at least 2 supporters who can influence the result. Brothers Walsh and Beaton.
By highlighting the pressure on the referee, Beale himself is putting pressure on the referee. He knows what he is doing all right!
Does he really think nobody notices this?
A referee has a hard job alright, but he should have assistance of VAR to get his decisions right, which goes to create a level playing field, so to speak.
But Beale is only trying to upset that level playing field because he knows he has an inferior side and will clutch at any straw to gain any possible advantage that may be going!
And they must see Clancy as a soft touch. we’ll see what happens on Saturday!