For the third time since January 26 David Dickenson will referee a match involving Philippe Clement’s side when Hibs visit Ibrox on Saturday.
The Renfrew based official found himself in the spotlight back in November as he shared a smile with the Ibrox boss as the Fourth Official after a goal was scored against Hearts in the semi-final of the League Cup.
Since then Dickinson has been in the middle for the matches Motherwell (December 24), St Mirren (January 27) and Kilmarnock (February 28).
Strangely Dickinson hasn’t had another SPFL match since the game at Rugby Park but on Saturday it will be his third match involving the Ibrox club since the turn of the year.
In marked contrast Willie Collum has now gone 11 SPFL fixtures without being involved with Clement’s team, either side of being in charge of the home Scottish Cup tie against Ayr United.
Quite clearly there is nothing random about how Crawford Allan appoints referees, a few days after the Ayr United fixture the SFA Head of Refereeing was singing the praises of Clement after his club had used a fan media partner to get the message out that Collum wasn’t welcome. So far Allan has complied.
Asked about the selection process, on February 15 Allan told the Daily Record:
At no point will a club influence a decision of a referee appointment in Scotland. I can categorically state that the Scottish FA will appoint referees to the best of that person’s experience, ability and professionalism. We will be appointing referees as their experience and profile is appropriate for. We totally reject any request from any club that a referee would not be considered for their club appointments.
We don’t want to make any massive headlines from one referee. It doesn’t matter if it’s one person’s name out there, it affects all the referees. We have to protect them all.
Actions speak far louder than words, with Dickinson getting his third match involving Clement’s side in just over two months it is clear that Allan follows instructions from Ibrox on who referees their match. On Saturday Collum will referee the match between Hearts and Kilmarnock.
Andrew Dallas will be on VAR duties for Saturday’s match at Ibrox.
CLICK HERE for Collum’s matches this season.
CLICK HERE for Dickinson’s matches this season.
Dickinson was pictured at an orange walk a few years back. Was on Facebook. Wish i had screenshotted the picture. Absolutely farcical and the most corrupt league in the world
As open as Wharton (The overweight referee) was doing the Masonic handshake on the pitch with John Grieg…
Wonder of any relative with the name Dickinson is on that Masonic board of Dishonour then –
Not a bad looking bit of gear on his arm though it has to be said !
Crawford Allen has to be removed instantly from his untenable post , it’s blatantly obvious he’s favouring sevco constantly, hopefully the celtic board has something to say at BRs hearing, especially as Collum has been nowhere near a sevco game since they turned the guns on him .
The whole refereeing set up is corrupt to the core , it’s an absolute scandal this is continuing without something being done!
I’m just glad that I no longer pay a penny towards it all Jim though it was still there even when I was in ma heyday of goin every other week…
But it just wasn’t there so openly back then –
Nowadays they simply don’t even try to hide it one little iota !
Happened to be on stag weekend in Liverpool which also attended, same day Scotland drew 2-2 with England. Your man Dickinson was playing rangers tunes on his phone with friend of his and both singing the national anthem.
Now you know why he gets these games.
“We Have To Protect Them All.” Indeed!
But the only football official I ever remember getting a yellow card deliberately knocked out of his hand as he went to book a player – was Willie Collum – against sevco at ipox after Jack had pressed Giakoumakis’s head to the turf after slide-tackling him.
It should have been a red card and I think Willie was being generous to Jack.
There’s a lesson there, but I cannot say!
Maybe they’ll give Collum the Ibrox game….. who will wildly overcompensate and give them three penalties to show how impartial he is.