Nothing to hide basis? Ibrox anger spills over as second statement is issued over Sima offside decision

Less than 24 hours after their initial statement the Ibrox Tribute Act have followed up with another attack on the SFA.

It seems that the combined wisdom of Lenny, Faddy and Boydy is being used for the latest tantrum as they attempt to deflect from the failings of players and the superiority of Saturday’s opponents.

In most countries a club that had gone 74 league matches without having a penalty awarded against them would want to steer well clear of questioning the integrity and motivations of match officials but today’s follow up brings the phrase ‘nothing to hide’ into the discussion.

Unlike in England Scottish match officials don’t have to declare what club they support or one that you might have a connection with. Saturday’s referee Nick Walsh works on the fitness of Murray Park starlets in his job as a PE teacher at their partnership school of Boclair Academy in Bearsden.

Officials from Lanarkshire and Glasgow dominate the big match appointments in Scotland, people who are working every day alongside fans of the two biggest clubs in the country.

Just before 5pm tonight the Daily Record and other obedient media outlets were fed the follow to yesterday’s dose of paranoia:

Despite repeated Rangers FC requests, the Scottish FA have so far failed to disclose the VAR audio to allow the club to understand the process around the non-award of a penalty in the first half of yesterday’s Old Firm match. Rangers officials stand ready to meet in-person or virtually with the Scottish FA at any time to hear and discuss the audio.

However, the Scottish FA are refusing to both share the VAR audio and meet until at least Wednesday, five days after the Old Firm match and after the next round of Scottish Premiership fixtures. This is clearly unacceptable and heightens Rangers’ concerns over the lack of transparency, for which the need is urgent.

Rangers have learned no penalty was awarded as the VAR official, Willie Collum, concluded a handball offence had not occurred in the first half. While the club and most observers are astonished by this ‘professional’ view, we remain perplexed and concerned about the Scottish FA’s motivations for sharing an offside image with broadcasters during the second half, when this was not the original reason why the penalty was not awarded.

England’s Premier League and other leading European Leagues operate on a ‘nothing to hide’ basis, where open communication and full transparency are available to clubs and the public on contentious VAR calls in a timely manner. On a weekend where not only Rangers but also fellow Scottish FA member clubs have major questions over potentially match-changing incidents, our governing body would do well to heed that same mantra.

John Beaton (Lanarkshire) will referee Tuesday’s match against Kilmarnock with Steven McLean (Glasgow) on VAR duty.