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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A cloudy, but bright and pleasant Spring morning here in North Ayrshire.
I’d have thought the April 6th deadline is because it’s the beginning of a new tax year. Or I thinking that because I work in financial services and dread that day? Whatever Regan and co are up to something which they think makes them awfully clever
H x 2
RE JF’s post @ 00.20
Can someone clarify whether t was George Peat who offered to change the Cup Final date to accommodate Rangers, without consulting QOTS? My memory, unreliable as that is, was that it was Gordon Smith who ran off at the mouth in that incident.
sixtaeseven
6th April is the Friday before the final pre-split fixtures are played (7th April).
Maybe they intend to relegate Rangers to the bottom 6 this year and that will be the extent of their punishment :-)
proudbhoy 09:24
Some of the contributors on here would make a fantastic job of bringing all this info together in a booklet/ book. We then need an outside party to take it to the next level , possibly even to the criminal courts as fraud and deception on a massive scale appear to have taken place .
Hail Hail
true
last season that much went on i was convinced celtic were gonna produce something to ueafa at the end of the season. would be good for our argument to leave the mess of a league were currently in.
Up to my ears in it today, so just popping in and back out again but…
I had an amazing dream last night, where a national independent news broadcaster ran a detailed report about ‘Cheating’ on a grand scale in the Scottish game going back many years, with one of the Directors of the ‘Cheats’ freely admitting and confirming as much in interview.
I know it was a dream because…
…there isn’t a peep about it in the papers this morning.
TBB
Morning bhoys, cooler but hun free as ever.
James Forrest, superb post, concise and to the point.
On the issue of Rangers being up for sale and trying to attract bid’s from interested parties.
All of the bid’s that have been made are CONDITIONAL.
We have not been made aware what the condition’s are.
If the bid’s are subject to the outcome of the FTT ,then there is no point in making the bid until the outcome of the FTT is known.
Likewise if the Ticketus deal needs to be scrapped then that is another hurdle which would make any bid nonsensical at this point in time.
The whole exercise of attracting bid’s at this point in time is futile.
What an absolute circus.
The amount of journalistic incompetence increases by the minute ,never mind the day.
There is enough scandal here to make a mini TV series.
I genuinely mean that.
TT
What about this wee snippet in the BBC’s gossip page :
Police will ask Rangers’ administrators to hand over documents relating to Craig Whyte’s takeover at Ibrox. (Record)
Tweet Tweet went the Big House Birdie…
BTW
Well Done to Steve Kean on last night’s result.
I have no affection for Blackburn FC but , after the nonsense he has faced, I hope he keeps Blackburn up and then resigns
TinyTim – There is enough scandal here to make a mini TV series.
It would be like “Manimal” meets “The Addams Family”, meets “Arrested Development”.
Jim Henson’s Creature Workshop could animate the Big Hoose guy. (thumbsup)
James F
Excellent post.
Some day the truth will out in the form of a book and what an intriguing read that will be. However the story is still ongoing, I suspect we are a good while away from the end. However I’m pretty certain that one of the next few chapters will be ‘Liquidation’.
In the meantime I’m enjoying the collective hysteria and finger pointing among the Hun ranks.
I have a slight worry about post Liquidation scenario. I think ‘outing’ a lot of reprehensible behaviour and culture will be good and will move not only Scottish football on but Scottish society. There will undoubtedly emerge a small group of dangerous extremists. A bit like the KKK in deep south USA. 99.9% of American WASP population accept a sense of shame about their forefathers misguided racism. There remains a dangerous element who retain the views of their uneducated parents , grandparents etc.
I can see ultra Huns emerging, at least for a period of time. In due course they will become derided and marginalised but in the intervening period ..beware!
I suspect a fair few of these extremist will shamelessly paraded their views on Sunday. Again , beware…!
SFTB
I have exactly the same view on Stevie Keane’s position.
He has shown great dignity in how he has conducted himself.
TT
Kean.
James Forrest,
I just read your beautifully-written and well-argued piece from last night.
Well done. I’m lost in admiration.
Can you imagine reading that on the front (or any other) page of The Herald?
No, neither can I.
Danny Lennon was in the papers this morning quoted as saying that Hearts are effectively cheating Scottish football by buying players when they can’t afford to pay their wages.
Another set of cheats? Can we catch them both at once – a double hit would be lovely.
Been busy so disconnected from general Hun goings on over the last few days.. However I did catch a radio report on Shortbread covering the radio debate on Monday evening. I was gob smacked to hear Gorfon Smith state there were no rumours of Hun Administration prior to it actually happening.
The sad thing is I’m beginning to believes he was unaware.
It coincides with a complete denial culture within Ibrox.
I don’t know what is worse for Hun Chairman, secretary,CEO, director of Football, etc.. The fact that they didn’t know anything or if they did know and we’re complicit. Ones as bad as the other in terms of credibility?
Morning CQN.
Did I not read somewhere that after 6 April HMRC have new powers to pursue newco’s for the debts accrued by the liquidated company?
HH
awaytoworkcsc
The Battered Bunnet on 21 March, 2012 at 09:42
There was a (fairly minor, given the importance of the matter) mention in this morning’s Herald.
But no mention from the nationally-funded and best resourced media outlet, the BBC (at least not in its morning sports report).
An organ whose list of football pundits is amply reresented by people linked to RFC (IA).
(How long before Duffield finds himself dragged screaming and kicking back behind a BBC microphone …?)
FF
ps Paul67, James Forrest, TBB, Brogan et all superb stuff. Keep up the good work.
HH
Morning cqn
Think the idea of having a booklet of all the time line of events from Murray takeover,who received an ebt? ,contracts submitted to sfa,what rules where breached and who responsibility it was to check them,whyte’s takeover and the sfa and spl investigation and what punishments should have been applied to what was given.Only this time sell it at parkhead on match day so every Celtic fan can see how the ra gers ,sfa and the spl failed .over to Paul67 and co.
Jam67
The SFA cannot investigate the 2 contracts situation as such an action would run contrary to masonic practise.
Morning from a Balmy Chiltens…………
seventyxseven ‘gelee et glace’ on 20 March, 2012 at 22:48 said:
”What I heard on CH 4 (to an audience South of Carlisle) was:”…..
You are quite right, Alex Thomson got some criticism last night for not running a complete exposé of the R@ngers affair in the RTC fashion.
We must remember how well versed CQNers are on this subject, not all are…… My children who are English have little interest in football but are nominally Celtic supporters.
My son came in the other evening…………….
“Dad Celtic aren’t in trouble are they?”
“No son. Why?”
“I was talking to a friend of mine he said it was Celtic and R@ngers in trouble, I told him it was just Rangers but he insisted it was both, I told him it was nonsense but he wouldn’t have it, mind you he is an Arsenal supporter……”
Now this is the level of ignorance we are dealing with Mr Salmond, Mr Forsyth and uncle John Bull and all, who are out to muddy the waters and tar us specifically and Scottish football in general with the same brush have their audience.
Alex Thomson knows his audience and from his previous blogs, the piece on C4 News last evening and his future investigations I would say as an impartial journalist he’s doing a great job.
In fact if he really is going to film in Glasgow next Sunday he will, in my book, be the archetypal Intrepid Reporter.
Hail! Hail!
SFA CAN’T INVESTIGATE TWO CONTRACT BUT UEFA AND FIFA CAN.
Time for Celtic to go public and ask for an inquiry into dealings in 90’s as well and for Rangers to be stripped of certain titles if case to be shown that the cheated.
anyone any info on izzys fitness ?
James Forrest great post.
Peat also did a Minty and jumped of the sinking corrupt ship. An unprofessional, repulsive individual who acted like a bigoted child towards our club. I can only hope he gets dragged back into the mess he helped create and a long standing culture at the SFA he joyfully continued.
alex thomson @alextomo
Tomo breakfast Glasgow Airport – Succulent Bacon
Haha!
Jamesy Bhoy
We have some great posters on here,one or two are obviously very professional and highly educated who are obviously taking the time out of their schedules to help our cause by contributing their skills and without being sycophantic towards them and yourself I have to admire your own recent contribution simply for the obvious passion you have for writing about matters which relate to Celtic,I’ll admit I don’t read everything you write but having noticed that you are now am integral part of the magazine I genuinely feel pleased for you that you’ve found feet and niche so good luck to you pal,its important we all have a passion,I think too that Auldheid is the same and deserves the credit the likes of BRTH,TBB and yourself are getting.
CQN is some place.
Barrach Obampot don’t need no stinkin’ Rangers on 21 March, 2012 at 10:01
Yes, I thought that as well previously.
However, a few posters on here corrected that view. Apparently, it was brought up on the RTC blog and it seems that HMRC powers don’t change after that date.
Pity…
CHAIRBHOY 1005
I hope he has a few cameras to film the events which I fear are going to take place.
I haven’t been there for a fair few years now,and always missed the occasion,but I have to say,I’m glad I won’t be anywhere near Scotland,never mind Ibrox,on Sunday.
‘your feet and niche’
Just Can’t Get Enough – Around the World!
CultsBhoy loves being 1st on 21 March, 2012 at 09:52 said
Re your analogy with the American South – the KKK reached its high point in the 1920s when it went seriously nativist (anti-Catholic). It never enjoyed the same support after that. The organised resistance to black civil rights in the South in the ’50s and ’60s was led by White Citizens’ Councils – mainly middle class and often containing in-comers to the South.
Personally, I think racism is world-wide. It cuts across every stratum of society and it gets most dangerous in hard times.
PHILVIS :))
Jim Henson’s Creature Workshop could animate the Big Hoose guy. (thumbsup)
share
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I think some extra foam might be needed for that..HH
James Forrest is The Emperor of Ice Cream on 21 March, 2012 at 00:20
Excellent post James.
Chairbhoy
The tide seems to be turning re CH 4’s piece after a few hours reflection. It was an important step in the right direction. The silence in this morning’s Scottish media says it all.
“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.”
HH.
The SPL split is significant for the remaining fixtures.
Any for RFCIA would have to be imposed before that date surely?
If a massive points deduction happened after the split, it must not be used as a safety net to “lodge” the cheats in sixth position.
Imagine the league table:
6 – RFCIA – 0pts
——-
7 – Kilmarnock – 40pts
“Any massive points deduction for RFCIA would have to be imposed before that date surely?”
CultsBhoy loves being 1st on 21 March, 2012 at 10:00 said:
As I posted last week Chico was slaughtered for mentioning the administration word about eighteen months ago.
The same Chico who was the intended victim of Archie Knox’s dignified ‘Throw the bastard over the balcony’ advice to an equally dignified Walter.