Brought back from the cold, yesterday the SFA announced that Willie Collum will referee Saturday’s Glasgow Derby.
For the second time in his career the Lanarkshire based referee has been blackballed by the Ibrox Tribute Act, in his 15th season operating in the top flight he knows exactly what is expected by the SFA to retain his place on the gravy train with high profile domestic matches topped up by lucrative UEFA appointments.
With the backing of Hugh Dallas as part of a box ticking exercise and the all powerful Lanarkshire Refereeing Association Collum has been untouchable as a referee despite having no real feel or understanding for the game with his visit to the European Championships in 2016 quickly cut short, the last time that a Scottish referee got invited to a major championship.
Collum incurred the wrath of the Ibrox hierarchy on December 30 when he failed to order a pitchside review for a handball by Alistair Johnston that would have picked up on Abdallah Sima being offside when the ball was crossed to him.
That decision gave the Ibrox club a deflection point, the match was turned by that decision with an obliging media in sync as they screamed for justice with Collum’s former teaching role the driving force behind the campaign.
Barely a word was heard about James Tavernier fouling David Turnbull in the penalty box during the second half with linesman Callum Spence, who failed to flag against Sima, raising his flag for a non-existent offside.
While Collum was sent to Siberia David Dickinson was drafted in, handling four victories for Phil Clement’s side between January 27 and May 5, his family were delighted by the appointments and results.
Last season Willie Collum awarded Rangers 3 penalties in 4 league games – the most in the league by a ref.
1)
Rangers v Kilmarnock.
Nobody knows why it was given.
Why VAR?2)
Pen and red v St Johnstone.
Red taken back on appeal.3)
Mental Colak penalty v Hibs. pic.twitter.com/RIVD6Dctjh— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) May 7, 2024
Collum has been as ‘erratic’ as ever with VAR giving him an extra opportunity to be at the centre of attention.
Last January at Ibrox he was on VAR duty for Celtic’s visit, refusing to intervene when Fashion Sakala dived into a challenge on Carl Starfelt or when Connor Goldson handled a shot from the Swedish defender.
Later that month St Johnstone had Nicky Clark sent off during the first half of their match at Ibrox while Ryan Jack was only booked for a brutal assault on Adam Mongomery’s angle.
Back in the tent for Saturday’s match, Collum knows that John Beaton, Don Robertson and Dickinson have been raising the standards in his absence.
Steven McLean, the brother of former Murray Park starlet and wannabe Northern Ireland u-21 internationalist Brian, will be on VAR duty for Saturday’s match.
? LISTEN: “He’s going at speed, with force. He has gone straight leg with his studs at Adam’s ankle”.
St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson’s unhappy with Ryan Jack’s challenge on Adam Montgomery and also gave his view on Nicky Clark’s red card and the penalty Rangers were awarded. pic.twitter.com/YwNv4TjY4v
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) January 28, 2023
Willie Collum.
Cutting his teeth the week after Dougie-Dougie.
Heard Broadfoot dive for penalty and awarded it.
pic.twitter.com/KLPmSEcldF— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) May 7, 2024
McLean is going to call collum over to the screen every time the huns get the ball in the box and the likes of the Portugal guy will be diving at every opportunity. Collum won’t have the back bone to go against the hun in var… I fear the worst unless we put this game to bed in first 20 minutes…
We thought we had done that in the last game and that turned out 3 each.
Big fake Kris Boyd demanded that the VAR panel of judges be named and presumably blamed for their incompetence last week ? Don’t stop there ! Make it compulsory ,starting next season for all referees and VAR nodding dogs to declare which team each and every one supports or has tendencies towards ? That way , at least the paying and watching public can have a small modicum of trust in our officials as it can be organised in such a way where no referee or VAR poodle gets to officiate their favourite club /clumpany matches . I notice Boyd never went near that subject ! Wonder why ?