Three bizarre Collum calls that raise serious Old Firm referee doubts
08/05/2024 09:00
The officials have been announced for Rangers trip to face Celtic in what is set to be a blockbuster Old Firm derby.
Philippe Clement knows what has to be done and will want to see a repeat of the second-half performance in the recent encounter at Ibrox.
What the Rangers manager won't want, is a repeat of the fiasco at Parkhead where the officials had a big say in the result with Celtic getting away with more than a few decisions – it’s not good news for those hoping that the referee won't take centre stage.
Willie Collum has had questionable Rangers decisions
The officials have been announced for the final Old Firm league game of the season that sees Rangers need to overturn both a three-point and three-goal deficit.
They will also need to do it knowing that the man in the middle is unlikely to do them any favours with Willie Collum being announced as the match referee.
Collum has barely been seen officiating Rangers since that fixture, and for very good reason.
Celtic 3 – 2 Rangers 26/12/2023
As the Video Assistant Referee, Willie Collum had one job to do.
Flag up any incidents where on-field whistler Nick Walsh might have been unsighted or if a clear and obvious error had been made.
Alistair Johnston clearly punching the ball out for a corner under pressure from Abdallah Sima was ignored, which resulted in the SFA confirming that an error had been made.
Collum took the law, literally, into his own hands, rather than following procedure.
He should have sent Nick Walsh to the monitor, then the phase of play would have been checked for offside, which it was.
Johnston then led with an elbow going for a header, whilst he was already on a yellow card, which Walsh should have been given another angle of.
It's a clear red card, but again, Collum said nothing.
Hibernian 2 – 2 Rangers 20/10/2022
Rangers had dominated at Easter Road and should have been more comfortable than the one-goal advantage that they had when John Lundstram was inexplicably sent off by Willie Collum.
Lundstram was guilty of clipping Martin Boyle’s heels whilst he broke away, a clear yellow card, however, Collum took it one stage further.
What made matters worse, is that earlier in the same game Jake Doyle-Hayes had committed an identical foul for Hibs, the punishment? A yellow card.
Lundstram’s red was rescinded.
St Mirren 0 – 2 Rangers 3/11/2018
A bizarre incident in the 80th minute saw Daniel Candeias receive a second yellow card for blowing a kiss.
Yes, the Portuguese winger was given his marching orders by Willie Collum after Rangers scored their second goal in what is one of the most incredible decisions seen in Scottish football.
Anton Ferdinand grabbed Candeias by the throat after a verbal exchange and yet it was the Rangers player who saw red.
To make matters worse, Rangers appeal was rejected after complaining about the referee.
Collum isn’t biased, but he shouldn’t be in charge of an Old Firm
Every club in Scottish football has been a victim of some of Collum's refereeing and he seems to have a habit of making decisions based on what he thinks he has seen rather than what has actually happened.
The last Old Firm at Parkhead was an embarrassment from the officiating team.
Nick Walsh seemed terrified to make on-field decisions and Willie Collum seemed to have forgotten what his job was.
It's a sad indictment of Scottish football that, in one of the biggest games for years, the referee is one who has had several complaints made against and had his competency questioned on several occasions.
You could almost write the headlines now.
