WILLIE COLLUM will preside over one of the biggest Scottish games of the weekend as the fallout continues from last weekend’s controversial Old Firm match at Celtic Park.
The veteran official was in the VAR room when he deemed that a potential handball by Celtic’s Alistair Johnston wasn’t worthy of a further look.
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Any extended look at the Attacking Phase of Play would have found that Abdallah Sima was offside earlier in the attack – meaning a penalty COULDN’T have been awarded.
But that hasn’t stopped the Ibrox side and the national body being involved in a war of words over the incident – with the SFA giving short shrift to call from Rangers that Collum shouldn’t be involved in refereeing their games in future.
While the Scottish Premiership is on its winter break. Collum is back in action tomorrow night, as Queen‘s Park play host to Dunfermline in an important Championship clash.
With Queen’s Park desperate to stave off relegation and Dunfermline keen to push on to the promotion spots, it will be beamed live on BBC Scotland.
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He’ll have Alan Mulvanny and Scott Bunting as his assistant referees running the line, with Alastair Grieve as fourth official.
In a statement tonight the SFA threw their weight behind the experienced official.
He said: “The Scottish FA is disappointed by contents of the most recent statement issued by Rangers in relation to a match incident during the club’s recent Premiership fixture against Celtic.
“Chief Executive James Bisgrove and Director of Football Operations Creag Robertson attended a private briefing with the Head of Referee Operations, Crawford Allan, to review the incident in question, including the use of matchday audio.
“We understood from the chief executive that the meeting had been constructive and informative, and conducted amicably.
“This does not appear to be reflected in the club’s statement.”
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