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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henryclarkson
Never too late, not even 1pm here yet so my wee birthday dram is still, sadly, hours away.
Cheers!
I think Hugh Adam needs to be put into the witness protection programme or at least found a safe house to stay in.
Awe_naw 16.38
How do you know I was a poor match official, did I officiate a game of yours?
Afternoon all
I have been off line for a week or so now and so will only make a few comments on Sunday
We looked lethargic and maybe the season has caught up with a few players
It was a STONEWALL penalty at the end but we should have had the game won way before that
I think Lenny made a few mistakes as i felt
Kelvin Wilson looked dodgy all day and had to make quite a few last minute lunging tackles that he should have dealt with easier, he did not attack the cross for the goal and Rogne had looked the better of the two
James Forrest just did not click for me and i would have taken him off for Samaras very quickly into the second half, although hooper had a very poor day and could not complain about being subbed, a sharp Hooper would have scored the gifted chance right at the start
And the Mr reliable in my book (Joe Ledley) didn’t turn up
Let’s hope they all make up for it on Sunday
Must not forget to offer condolences to the kilmarnock player, his family and team mates, who’s father died at hampden.
Football is only a game (as much as we love it) and any pain we feel at missing out on a trophy, it cannot compare to the sudden death of a parent
Hail Hail
Aipple on 20 March, 2012 at 16:42 said:
Never too late, not even 1pm here yet so my wee birthday dram is still, sadly, hours away.
18:49 here, i’ll have a cold beer and toast your birthday in an hour then -)
The Lizard King @15.11
Excellent effort! Before the match on Sunday I posted that one of the reasons “trebles” are so difficult to achieve is because cup matches generally, and finals in particular, are susceptible to luck and to the twist of fate.I also mentioned that I had Hooper 1st goal and Celtic to win 3-0, as a bet, not as a prediction. The bet went out of the window with Hooper’s miss! As luck would have it I came across a review, (by Tim Lewis), that same day, of a new book by former cricketer, Ed Smith; ‘Luck: What it means and Why it matters’. Apparently one of his conclusions is that one of the reasons that football is the most popular sport is the part luck plays in so many matches. “Luck”
We know Willie Collum is incompetent, that is why the SFA hired him, but we also know that is not the only reason they hired him, he also has the ability to influence results, the Hamilton match, the penalty sight unseen for Rangers etc etc etc. He had very few opportunities to influence the result on Sunday, one or two maybe, but, like a top striker he (unlike Stokes) took one of those chances! Rangers will rarely lose a Cup Final, (unless Celtic play really well, and even then) no matter how good the opposition plays, as long as they have the Bobby Davidsons and the Hugh McCurrys in charge. Jock Stein knew that. No luck needed. Long suspected, there exists a very unholy trinity in Scottish football, which involves the SFA, Rangers FC, and the Referees Association. Time to hire European officials, our lot cannot be trusted!
Awe_naw
Foreign refs like 3cards Graeme Poll& some of the efforts we see in Europe & World Cups? That old one…
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 on 20 March, 2012 at 16:38 said:
Don’t recall what were were supposed to be consulting them about?
Celtic need not do anything, publically, for now.
Let the SPL inquiry, SFA disciplinary process, FTT, Strathclyde Police investigation, C4 investigaton, plus the other myriad bodies pouring over the decaying carcass have their reports.
We wait. It’s what we do.
(insert youtube of Guiness advert here)
HH
TLK
one other we point i find it quite ironic that a man from the six county statelet is willing to put cash in with the blue knights,the right honourable john taylor[lord kilclooney]
former home secretary of stormount who to this day still feels the unionist party
did no wrong while it was the only party of power in the six county statelet,
that shows the mindset of these people [or is that ra peepil].
midfield maestro
because of your flawed logic towards the bounce of the game. My point about Cammy Bell doing his job IS just as pertinent NO DEBATE. So there is a debate on that issue to be had but UNFORTUNATELY you flatly refuse to countenance it. That´s a poor official that has already made his mind up not only about Hoopers miss and the possible penalty but the goalkeepers roll also.
For an impartially minded official that´s flawed.logic AND SHOULD NOT BE PART OF ANY decent referees mind set.
HAil Hail
henryclarkson
Good man, will listen for the pop.
HH!
I suggest Paul67 and Bitter Lemon need to get their eyes tested.
No contact = no penalty.
Throwing left leg onto ground – dive.
Referee was in good position and rightly booked Stokes.
Do you think we’ll get some meejah truth? Or will it be just more spin…
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/the-usefulness-of-c4/
I am amused by the er, friendly banter between Rangerstaxcase and Mr Spiers over on twitter.
I wonder why a journalist who writes such incisive, insightful, investigative and fact-based pieces would bother entering into debate with one of the calibre of Spiers.
Again, a request for those in the UK who can manage to record the C4 pieces then get them up here for us to see to do so, please :)
midfield maestro
Hugh Dallas in the 2002 World cup ask any German they will tell you he cost them the WC in 2002
Stuart Dougal in the Hungary Turkey game …a World cup qualifier. I wouldn´t even talk to a Hungarian about it is was so abject.
Was it Craig Thompson last week
All these guys much better than you I suppose and REALLY POOR
AND COMPLETELY UNABLE TO ACCEPT THAT FACT
How did the referees do in their wee test spring having colluded to keep liars and cheats within the game yet will not countenance honest men returning to the game.
It is all in their mindset I am afraid built from a misplaced sense of superiority.
remind you of anyone ? sure there must be a few
Hail Hail
Midfeid MAestro
popping out just now but we be back on later to read your response.
Til laters
Hail Hail
Palacio67 on 20 March, 2012 at 16:40 said:
Hey bud,
how was the wedding at Peckforton castle ?
some place eh.
This is a good time to go after the MIBs – while the SFA are distracted as some of their other shunannigans are being exposed to the world.
1. Steven Craven’s comments on match reports
2. The amended match report which P67 had in his possession.
3. Disgraced former Head of MIB Development Hugh Dallas’ invitation to and presence at a Rankers game this season.
4. The Callum Murray defence of his man-handlers at their disciplinary hearing.
5. The catalogue of video evidence of honest mistakes from the previous 3 seasons which co-incided with a time when RFCiA needed EVERY penny they could get (and this is now common knowledge).
How far would any club go for £10M-15M cash in the pot every season, if tax avoidance to the tune of £100M+ had no signifant bearing on it’s sense of ethics??
CL Final 2013 Lisbon
Cmon the hoops
Celtic Mac on 20 March, 2012 at 16:47 said:
You make very good points. The context of the game is crucial.
Celtic lose the league when it comes down to the last game because we are airey-fairey, rhebel tarrier bottlers, whilst Rangers are professional, stoic, determined (sub text: superior gene pool). Right?
It is why a simple analysis of refereeing “count of errors” is not enough. Context is everything. You hit the nail on the head. Collum lacked opportunities to influence the game until the very end. I said yesterday he panicked. I was wrong and Stuart Dougal in the Herald today was right. He was cold blooded calmness personified. He heard the dog whistle and performed the tummy roll perfectly.
Craig Thomson is a very clever man – exceptionally so. He’s the one. He can subtly influence games without grand standing the big decisions. A nudge here, a 50/50 high ball there, break up the flow, keep the pressure on with a wee throw in here or corner there. This was the mode last season after we called out all the grandstanding game changing decisions during 2009/10 (goals, disallowed goals, sendings off etc – high profile stuff x about 40 – ie one a week – good grief!). It became subtler. It became less about Celtic and more about ensuring Rangers players were not booked, but their opp were. Celtic can’t be seen to be commenting on Rangers games and how they are ref’d – bad form and not acceptable.
Funnily until Sunday the “honest mistakes“ had dried up since Admin day.
We’ve won the league and we’ll not see much in the way of “honest mistakes” in league games now apart from the Rangers games where we must be put back in our box and dignity must reign. Expect Shame Game 2 on Sunday. I’d advise Lenny to sit tight and abide.
HH
TLK
Fortunes Favour Mibbes on 20 March, 2012 at 17:01 said:
and dont forget George Peat celebrating a huns goal against us while in their directors box on em “official duty”,
aye right.
Awe_Naw
My flawed logic seemed to be the opinion of the masses on Sunday, fans, media, ex players etc etc. he should have scored, rather than giving the keeper ‘a daisy cutter’. A keepers instinct is to go to ground, other than Schmiecel, who always ‘stayed big’, he should have rounded or chipped the keeper. I wonder what Henrik would have done, or is that flawed also?
Hello
My third article on Rangers story (Rangersgate???) has just gone up on Left Foot Forward a popular left(ish) political blog. It was submitted a couple of days ago so maybe misses a few recent bits-n-bobs.
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/03/glasgow-rangers-administration-tax-avoidance-tangled-web/
I’m sure that regulars here will be familiar with the story as it draws on knowledge and perspectives gained on RTC, CQN and many other blogs. I like to disseminate these ideas a bit further though.
If you like it please use the buttons to retweet and share.
thx
ps previous articles were
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/02/rangers-fc-how-a-market-leader-went-bust/
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/03/what-will-happen-to-glasgow-rangers-fc/
The Lizard King-A few bhoys posted last week about a meeting with UEFA.BTW totally agree we should stand well back and witness the fit-up,then act. HH
Thomson’s latest
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/rangers-saga-hide-deeper-corruption-football/964
midfield maestro on 20 March, 2012 at 17:04 said:
Greatly appreciate your insights to answer my questions to you from earlier if you can spare the time.
Off out now and will catch up post C4 news.
HH
TLK
Twardzik again!! He must be looking at a first team slot next season.
CELTIC comfortably saw off Dunfermline in a friendly match at Lennoxtown this afternoon, (Tuesday), putting four goals past the Fife side without reply.
Pawel Brozek netted his first goal in Celtic colours before Filip Twardzik completed a wonderful solo effort shortly after the break. Callum McGregor extended the lead with two well-worked goals, the second of which came in the closing seconds of the match.
Celtic had named a strong side, with Brozek, Mikael Lustig and Rabiu Ibrahim making the starting XI. Emilio Izaguirre and Efrain Juarez also played the full 90 minutes.
Twardzik came closest to opening the scoring, forcing the Dunfermline keeper into a save before slotting an effort just inches past the far post. But he turned provider five minutes from half-time, sending a low cross to the far side of the box where Brozek was on hand to slot it under the keeper.
With the goal advantage, the Hoops started the second-half confidently, and continuing his good performance, Twardzik found the back of the net. Working the ball through the Dunfermline defence he finished off his good move by bulleting the ball into the back of the net.
And shortly afterwards, substitute, McGregor, completed another good move, converting Dylan McGeouch´s pass with his right foot.
Tony Watt and Paul George looked sharp when they came on and both came close to adding to Celtic´s tally. And it was the Irish winger who set up McGregor for his second strike of the afternoon.
With the last kick of the ball, McGregor picked up the pass from George and fired home a left-foot shot, securing the comprehensive 4-0 victory.
CELTIC: Cervi; Lustig (McGregor), Irvine, Fraser, Izaguirre; McGeouch (Chalmers), Juarez, F. Twardzik, Blackman; Ibrahim (Watt), Brozek (George)
Subs not used: Fasan
And another one on Regan and the SFA
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/sfa-rule-book-post-rangers-debacle/976
Thanks for all the good wishes, nice to know some others out there left it late(ish). I’ll keep an eye out for you on the nightshift.
Aw Naw – I’ll take a look at that link, sounds like you’ve already reduced some grown men to tears.
If anyone out there has been told by the doctors that there’s no hope then remember us. My wife was told nine years ago that she couldn’t get pregnant. Shortly after that we moved to Spain and started a new chapter in our lives – new home, new business, new friends. When we least expected it, Nature hit a home run. Now looking forward to being asked at the schoolgates the secrets of being such a fit Grandad :)
Development Squad beat Dunfermline
By: Laura Brannan on 20 Mar, 2012 16:16
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Development Squad
Lennoxtown
CELTIC 4
(Brozek 40, F. Twardzik 46, McGregor 53, 90)
DUNFERMLINE 0
CELTIC comfortably saw off Dunfermline in a friendly match at Lennoxtown this afternoon, (Tuesday), putting four goals past the Fife side without reply.
Pawel Brozek netted his first goal in Celtic colours before Filip Twardzik completed a wonderful solo effort shortly after the break. Callum McGregor extended the lead with two well-worked goals, the second of which came in the closing seconds of the match.
Celtic had named a strong side, with Brozek, Mikael Lustig and Rabiu Ibrahim making the starting XI. Emilio Izaguirre and Efrain Juarez also played the full 90 minutes.
Twardzik came closest to opening the scoring, forcing the Dunfermline keeper into a save before slotting an effort just inches past the far post. But he turned provider five minutes from half-time, sending a low cross to the far side of the box where Brozek was on hand to slot it under the keeper.
With the goal advantage, the Hoops started the second-half confidently, and continuing his good performance, Twardzik found the back of the net. Working the ball through the Dunfermline defence he finished off his good move by bulleting the ball into the back of the net.
And shortly afterwards, substitute, McGregor, completed another good move, converting Dylan McGeouch´s pass with his right foot.
Tony Watt and Paul George looked sharp when they came on and both came close to adding to Celtic´s tally. And it was the Irish winger who set up McGregor for his second strike of the afternoon.
With the last kick of the ball, McGregor picked up the pass from George and fired home a left-foot shot, securing the comprehensive 4-0 victory.
CELTIC: Cervi; Lustig (McGregor), Irvine, Fraser, Izaguirre; McGeouch (Chalmers), Juarez, F. Twardzik, Blackman; Ibrahim (Watt), Brozek (George)
Subs not used: Fasan
aWe-nAW
Away to make dinner, then swimming & running, may be on later to read your eloquence.
Saint Stivs @ 17:03
Did you notice I didn’t even include Dougiegate :>)
Navanbhoy…..Neil did not make any mistakes on Sunday………too many players did not rise to the occasion, I’m afraid…….they did not show anywhere near the same desire as the Kilmarnock players….
After all these years just found out that Rick Astley is my real dad.
The lying fecker, that he is.
Desperate train journey and mad dash, to be home before six bongs.
Happy Birthday to The Big Aipple
Hail Hail
Awe Naw you asked “How did the referees do in their wee test spring ….”
I’m assuming you refer to their jolly over in the south of Spain. How they did (or should that be what they did) was shown in the very first Saturday v. ICT at Celtic Park. Stphen McLean put in the worst referreeing perfomance of the season up ’till that day, he was astonishingly bad and, surprise, surprise, his astonishing decisions were largely against one team!