The job of referee has a kind of inverse relationship between popularity and career progress. Willie Collum has been at the centre of this season’s three major controversies. He was referee on two occasions when his assistants failed to notice Celtic conceded a goal in crucial league games against Rangers and Hearts (on each occasion the ball crossed the line by inches and remained there for a small fraction of a second).
There is very little a ref can do when his assistant doesn’t flag when the ball crosses the goal line, as we all know, but Collum still suffered reputational damage from some who simply blamed him for being in charge when ‘goals’ against Celtic were not awarded by assistant referees.
It takes a brave decision for a ref to award an injury time penalty for a team losing by a goal in a cup final. As we noted yesterday, Anthony Stokes clearly had his ankle clipped when clean through with Cammy Bell to beat on Sunday while the Kilmarnock defender never came close to the ball. This was a foul any day of the week, but having been in charge when Celtic benefited from assistant referee decisions, Collum booked Stokes instead of awarding a penalty.
This incident was almost identical to Collum’s decision not to award Celtic a penalty in the infamous game away to Hamilton Accies in 2011. With five minutes of the game remaining Niall McGinn was tripped inside the box but Collum booked the player.
The offside rule was subject to a new and unique interpretation that day. Hamilton ‘scored’ from a set piece with a player alone inside the six yard box who jumped over the ball. He was in an offside position by several yards and stood in front of Fraser Forster before allowing the ball to pass under him. Collum also sent off James Forrest for blocking a clearance in an incident which caused a Hamilton player to kick his boot.
All of this followed the infamous incident at Celtic Park when despite looking the other way, Collum awarded Rangers a penalty when Kirk Broadfoot stumbled in the vicinity of Daniel Majstorovic.
Without enjoying the light of robust critical analysis of refereeing decisions that happens in most other countries I’m not sure where we go with any of this. Celtic Quick News called both ‘goal’ incidents against Rangers and Hearts as assistant referee mistakes so it is only appropriate we record Mr Collum’s significant mistakes when refereeing Celtic, while we ponder the formula for career progression among Scotland’s referees.
I know we covered the issue of Duff and Phelps needing to talk-up any possibility of nullifying Ticketus ownership of future season tickets, Craig Whyte’s security over Ibrox of HMRC being prepared to accept a few pennies in the pound (before HMRC issued a rare statement about the important of paying your tax, “football club or not”), so apologies for repeating myself, but….
Duff and Phelps have agreed no deal with HMRC. Ticketus retain ownership of future season tickets and the recent court challenge appears to offer little threat, while Craig Whyte retains his security. In addition, Duff and Phelps have received no offer for Rangers with terms which are within their control.
So, apart from having no offers they can accept, no stadium to sell, no control over future season ticket sales, no agreement with HMRC and having absolutely no idea what they will do when player contracts revert to their full value on 1 June, Duff and Phelps job is pretty easy.
Right now they need to keep all their plates in the air. The very least we should do is cut them some slack as they endeavour to work the angles.
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I definitely know that I am in the minority in here but I would prefer to see a team in green and white hoops pump the the Huns on a football pitch for years to come rather than than them get pumped by a tax case
The best feeling in the world is the baw being put into their net by a green and white hooped player.
jmccormick on 20 March, 2012 at 21:13 said:
this part in particular
There is one other point worth making about D&P’s outsider status, however: no Scottish firms wanted the work because they feared for their windows.
And that should tell you everything you need to know about which of the current administrations in British football will be the hardest to resolve successfully.
The CH4 item whilst not exactly illuminating, will have made a number of people outwith Scotland aware that something murky is going on – the item was always going to be no more than an attention grabber!
Linked with the CH4 follow-up item on Tax evasion/ avoidance – throw in the court case in London – SSN/ TalkSPORT/ R5 coverage – who knows maybe some of the English papers might now look at it in depth?
Interestingly, just got an email from b-in-law (Tim) in London watching it with some golf mates – says he: suddenly the guys (Charlton/ Spurs/ Arsenal supporters) I am with have spent the past hour grilling me on what’s going on with RFCiA.
What we probably need is a little ‘head-to-head’ expose contest between Mark Daley (BBC) and Alex Thomson (CH4) to make it interesting!
Auld Neil Lennon heid on 20 March, 2012 at 20:56 said:
Funniest comment of the day…still laughing!
Hail Hail
Amnesty,amnesty is it?
WHICH FOOTBALL CLUB HAS LOST OUT ON THE MOST .MONEY AMONGST ALL MEMBER CLUBS?
2-1 candystripes
2-1 Derry get in there 13 left
fritzsong on 20 March, 2012 at 20:30 said:
Sorry was away playing ‘Frustration’ with weans.
I go to France quite often, the French attitude to Sarkozy appears to change like the wind. Their unpredictability is a concern.
whats thesunderland score ?
Clinko,you not a sheepskin lol
St Stivs1-0 B/Burn
Has anyone at all in the sorry saga of the Huns come out and said in answer to a question…Yes I can answer that because it was my job? We have chairmen not knowing anything about how a club is run, we have the SFA not knowing about players contracts and unable to check on club owners.
wtf’s a sheepskin
HH
mickbhoy1888 on 20 March, 2012 at 21:18 said:
It’s not often that we agree but your post has a very appealing ring to it.
There’s a big part of me that would prefer to see them stumble aimlessly for the foreseeable future, winning nothing, with attendances of less than 4,000, skirting with relegation on a yearly basis.
Congratulations Leo,all time top-scorer at Barcelona at 24 years of age.Phenomenal.
BABASONICOS71 on 20 March, 2012 at 21:27 said:
Congratulations Leo,all time top-scorer at Barcelona at 24 years of age.Phenomenal.
——————-
he isnt you know.
there was a guy away at the beginning scored around 350 goals for them.
Alberto or something
Clinko,Finn Harps fan..lol
Was just picking my daughter up from Guides there when the 9 o’clock news came on Real Radio. First thing on the news was that (I’m paraphrasing) ‘Channel 4 claim that Rangers may have paid some players with undeclared payment scheme and so some players may have been ineligible and trophies may be rescinded’.
Where have Real Radio been while all this has been going on??? Sounded like news to them too!
Clinko,great game at the Brandywell
Can’t agree with those wanting them to continue to exist. Let them rot and die. Mind you, I am a bad person, acc to Ian Davidson.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan, 21:07
Fine bit of writing my good man
3-1 Derry
3-1
Ah well that’s the coupon down – took Leeds for a home win – lost 7-3!
coorslad,
Is Ryan McBride playing for Derry?
praecepta
Now you are talking, a jurno fight to see who gets the best scoop.
I thought the 5 mins tonight was just a leader, he has or will be talking to uefa, and obviously when the FTT returns it’s verdict, hopefully with a guilty verdict, they will really have nowhere to hide.
………………………………
Benfica 2-2 Porto, Benfica hit the woodwork 3 times, and should be leading by
7-2, football eh, funny old game.
Too fast for me Coors
All over,what a warm up for Sunday,Derry gubbed the Linfield 3-1(4-2)agg…
Wouldn’t it be good if either of the Kevins, Macarra or McKenna, were to investigate things for the Observer or the Guardian? They must be clued up if any Scottish sports journalists are and they work for English papers.
Juve v Milan ch 530 extra time great game. Hope it goes to pens.
I honestly believe that in s rayguns private moments he must be shaking his head in disbelief at what he has wandered into, I wouldn’t be surprised also if he wasn’t planning an exit strategy already citing amongst reasons that the body is ungovernable and completely dis functional( copyright Mcleish) as each passing week reveals more Skeletons in the cupboard from a time before his tenure.
Classic sign off with stress,resign and raise a constructive dismissal claim against his employers should do the trick Stuart .
Tri-Coloured Ribbon,Big Lexie mc Bride was on from the start..
Auld Neil Lennon Heid.
Dunno if you picked up on it,but an earlier post showed communication from A.Thomson to S.Regan about our old favourite, this years’ UEFA licence.
I am sure you could educate AT on this topic if you felt inclined.
Wouldn’t want the guy to be missing this “open goal” would we?
Best Regards
medtim
praecepta
I took them both to score @ 5/6 and more than 2.5 goals @ 1/1
10 goals would have been about 100/1
I thought MoN might have done me a turn tonight, small wager on the Mackems, will have to wait see how the others go, looking ok though :>)
Coors
only time I supported the Harps was when Derry were in the wilderness.
City were still the local team even for us Budgen wans.
Chang was my favourite when I was a pup.
that was a decent game tonight but think I’ll turn over to those hoofers
at Camp Nou
Extra time in Turin, great game.
SPF
Cliftonville 2-0 Shamrock Rovs.Extra time
Juve score a scorcher!! 35yds