Willie Collum was back on message at Ibrox tonight as he helped deliver a Scottish Cup quarter-final place with Morton expected to follow Ayr United to Ibrox in tomorrow’s draw.
Following their defeat in the December 30 Glasgow Derby the Ibrox club went to war with Collum very much the main target.
Two statements were sent to media partners with a list of demands including the release of audio for an offside incident in the 2-1 defeat away to the champions.
The SFA never said a word or raised any disrepute charges, a third statement had an extra element for the Heart & Hand podcast as they revealed that a demand had gone in for Collum not to be involved in future matches.
That was never a realistic expectation but it did send out a message to referees to ensure that they stayed on message. No special instructions were ever required for John Beaton, Alan Muir, Steven McLean, Nick Walsh or David Dickinson. Full time VAR officials Andrew Dallas and Greg Aitken got to their current roles by knowing what is expected.
After being overlooked for four SPFL matches a home cup tie with Ayr United was a low risk fixture to pretend that Ian Maxwell doesn’t follow orders from Ibrox.
The Lanarkshire based official gave every decision in one direction, he won’t get another meaningful game involving the Ibrox club this season but he can be integrated back into the network next season.
This is how COLLUM being intimidated works
pic.twitter.com/m6IKQIzimI
Please take note @CelticFC— Celticfan1888 (@celticfan1888) February 10, 2024
In the first half Connor Goldson escaped unpunished for a late lunge at the foot of an opponent.
Fabio Silva was booked during the first half which created an issue when he flew in late near the by-line early in the second half. As Michael Stewart correctly called it Collum bottled out of the second yellow that he would issue against any other team.
Willie Collum “bottled it” over sending off Rangers’ Fabio Silva, insists Michael Stewarthttps://t.co/jupakIiNIFhttps://t.co/jupakIiNIF
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) February 10, 2024
On Viaplay Sport co-commentary duties Stewart said:
Scott Brown is not happy about it, you can tell he is very much not impressed with what has happened there.
That is more of a yellow card than the first one. I thought the first one was very harsh.
I’ll be honest. Willie Collum has bottled it there. The first one was very harsh. That was much more of a booking. The referee was bottled it.
Like many [?] I did have some sympathy for Collum when he was
targeted by sevco.
The SFA and The Scottish Referees’ Association seriously let him down.
But, that second ‘tackle’ tonight… ?!
Collum is just another spineless, biased, corrupt referee [allegedly].
like most of our Category 1 referees?
Collum and his colleagues will NEVER get the experience of reffing at
a World Cup or a Euros Finals,
because The Scottish Referees’ Association is rotten to the core.
We’ve known that for a good while,
…and maybe their unacceptably poor ‘standards’ are now
well known outside Scotland ?
The well dodgy FIFA & UEFA must regard our refs as ‘just too dodgy’
even for them ?
🙁
A see flipflops pressure paid off.
I’m fukkin sickae this……..the whole fukkin lot of it.
2nd comment in a coupla weeks……… fukkin sickae it.
Its corrupt to the core.Do you honestly think gollum would give anything against them?Its got to being acceptible now.
NO ref , not one of them , will give any decision against ibrox . The hun board have worked this situation . They wont drop points to any of the rest . Celtic will have to play really well to get anything out of the two remaining derby games .
Aye well – The Sevco Hun intimidation policy has worked a treat for them…
So why on earth don’t we try a little of it to benefit Celtic –
Oh hell – Silly me – We are too nicey, nicey and wish washy and wooley to behave like that even if is to our detriment…
One thing I’ll give The Sevco Board full credit for though –
They are certainly NOT spineless, yellow faced cowardly bastards like our old grey men are !