KILMARNOCK, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 06: Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell (R) is sent off by referee Kevin Clancy during a William Hill Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Rangers at the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park, on December 06, 2025, in Kilmarnock, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Kilmarnock are the latest victim of the co-ordinated attack on match officials following Celtic’s victory in the League Cup semi-final.
The hoops were denied two clear penalties that weren’t even reviewed by VAR. Additionally Johnny Kenny was the victim of a brutal attack from Derek Corneilus, while grounded Mohamed Diomande tried to knee the striker on the head.
Was there a campaign launched on those issues? Not a chance.
CLANCY AND BUTLAND INCIDENTS
Instead the alleged beheading of Jack Butland was front and centre. Willie Collum was summoned for a meeting, statements were made, follow up statements were issued.
And the SFA buckled.
Apologetic Willie Collum went to pains to do everything short of apologise during his scripted VAR Review on Sky Sports with Gordon Duncan.
No apology was needed. The campaign has produced the desired effect. Check out the comments of Livingston, Dundee United and last night Kilmarnock fans over recent matches.
You don’t need to deep dive into stats to detect a certain pattern.
The amazing thing is that the ref doesn’t see this as a foul, VAR doesn’t see this as a foul or a yellow or red, VAR are a paid service, surely it was noticed in replay Butland hadn’t played the ball first, denied a goal scoring opportunity and was a red card.
— Tigertim Esq (@asmallteaser) December 6, 2025
On the Butland incident Sutton said:
Jack Butland is so, so lucky. Bruce Anderson gets to the ball first then it comes off Butland. They are both going for the ball, Bruce Anderson nicks the ball onto Butland and then gets away with it. Really, really lucky.
Some might think that it was more than luck.
?? “[Mohamed] Diomande is lazy, he grabs him, I think this might be given”
Killie’s penalty claim is reviewed by VAR but play continues at Rugby Park ?? pic.twitter.com/3jouTjftuX
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) December 6, 2025
Both incidents came at a critical stage in the match. It won’t just be Livingston and Dundee United fans that knew exactly how both decisions would go. Clancy knows how to stay on the rota for the most lucrative appointments, at home and in Europe.
SCOTLAND’S STRANGE WAYS
On Thursday attention switches to Ferencvaros and the Europa League. UEFA will select the match officials, not Willie Collum. Clancy, John Beaton and Don Robertson won’t be near any of the 18 midweek Champions League matches.
Robertson, fresh from his VAR appointment at Tannadice in midweek will referee today’s match between Celtic and Hearts.
It is the fifth time this season that Robertson has been put in charge of Celtic, after just 15 matches. Another issue that Collum avoids explaining.
Scottish football serves up great controversy for Sky Sports to discuss. Supporters of 11 clubs aren’t finding it so entertaining.
Unfortunately it seems that no club is prepared to step up and ask questions. It seems that this level of refereeing is part and parcel of Scottish football in 2025.
https://youtu.be/pw2Qkuq_g5s
The cheating officials are doing nothing more than destroying the Scottish game and devalue the product of the SPFL.
It’s no wonder that the British army now sponsor sky sports, and try to downplay the level of cheating and corruption, that’s becoming worse, all in favour of only one team?
It’s fantastic for ourselves in winning trophies in overcoming the likes.
The knockon effect, is just how many quality players, that is required for improvements for European competitions.
Are actually wanting to apply there trade within such a current shitshow of Scottish football?
Trying to make a more competitive SPFL, by destroying the product of Scottish football, remains the biggest issue within the overall game, and continues to get overlooked.
The Scottish game will continue into such a decline, if it can even go any lower than it currently is at present imo?
Letting the blatant cheating, with the overall corruption involved, is potentially at an all time high imo?
The game up here is lower than a SNAKES belly..
Lol,and then the sevco fans wonder what the fuck is going on when their klubs players carry out the same tactics in Europe,only to find their players red carded and penalties awarded against them for the sane things they get away with in Scotland.
Notice how in the game last night sevco have the game won on 80 minutes,no dodgy penalties to sevco to BAIL them out when struggling to get something from the game,no 98 minutes of play to grab an equaliser,funny that isn’t it.
Keep selling out the games,you know what they say fools and their money are easily parted.
That’s three different teams who have fallen victim of the masons in black in three different games over the last two weeks, not to mention us on a couple of occasions. VAR goes along with it I’ve said before that the SFA and SPFL are scared of the people but what I can’t understand is why the clubs being cheated don’t complain or speak up until they do nothtwill change. The solution to one club bullying the rest lies with the clubs.
Its all about 2nd place and european money.
Sevco need it, spl know this, the MiB know this.
Single handedly the most crooked game in Europe.
Maybe if Lucan spoke out for us we’d get decisions !