Willie Collum’s Dangerous Record

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.

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