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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Got an iPad now, a lot better than PC, but difficult to get used to…….
Sorry, but has there been a ‘development’ today on the Hugh Adam statements ?
Alex Thomson blog starting to look like Follow Follow. Poor wee bares who were mislead.
If RTC knew about Whyte’s deals from day one and Paul67 has mentioned Sir Minty’s pie in the sky finances for years now, how could the bares not see it?
Absolute p1ss.
67 enters touch screen Heaven.
DeniaBhoy on 20 March, 2012 at 15:26 said:
Here’s the babys manual:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Baby-Owners-Manual-Instruction/dp/1931686238/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332263953&sr=8-1
Good luck to you, the missus and the little one…just think you will be in your mid sixties when they reach college age :)
Hail Hail
midfield maestro
No need to keep wondering what Henrik would have done…..Henrik would have scored;)
My money would have been on a dummy, a roll of the ball with the right foot round the keeper and finish with the left!
HH
“Kojo” revealed as Rick Astley..
Oh…Up The Hoops !
Sundays defeat really hurts.
TT
bournesouprecipe
Cheers my good man!
Off for a call with English co looking for a series of iPhone apps, cross your fingers!
Bournesouprecipe……LOL……..still go too fast, and sometimes the spelling suffers…can’t be bothered re-reading what I write, for any errors, since I talk a load of old bull at times…..!!!!!!!!
The Lizard King @ 15:11,
Apologies for the delay in getting back.
That’s was a great piece I’m glad you’re on top of this, the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming but some corroboration would be the clincher. Whistle blowers and documentation.
Dougiegate has provided some of this but of course they have done everything they can to undermine Steven Craven.
I can’t find the Mark Guidi article where Steven Craven gives examples of being marked down, Stephen McManus and Kirk Broadfoot I think.
I’ll carry on looking but if it’s not on the net I’ve got a hard copy at home, I’ll type it out and post the quote.
It will be after six.
In the meantime here is the Celtic Penalty U-turn without the quote – no smoking gun here mind you
Interesting the fact that a referee resigned this week due to a demotion after giving that rediculous penalty to R@ngers and The player and the ref were penalised. Maybe things have changed but we must point to the decisions during the Mowbray seasons’ when RFC were desperate for Champions League cash.
Hail! Hail!
Tiny tim…….next Sunday’s victory will cheer us all up, though ………
67Heaven
Have fun
Aipple
You can do it
Mainstream seems to be catching up with the bampots.
Today
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/sfa-rule-book-post-rangers-debacle/976
Last June
http://celticunderground.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=693:sfa-reform-one-down-three-to-go&catid=45:season-2010-2011&Itemid=80
and cheers to Celtic Underground for giving the bampots a place to bam.
navanbhoy on 20 March, 2012 at 16:46 said:
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
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
But how are these Lenny’s mistakes?
He picked Wilson to accomodate to Ledley in midfield. In my opinion the right choice. Ledley didn’t turn up – can’t blame Lenny on that. He’s been so consistent all year yet he chose Sunday to have his poorest game inn a Celtic jersey.
I’d have gone with Sammaras too but it really is a toss of a coin between him and Forrest. Forrest was poor but Sammi didn’t set the heather alight either. I don’t rate Wilson that highly but as I say – in order to get Ledley into midfield – he had to pick him.
The tactics and formation – 4 4 2 were spot on. The players didn’t perform.
Traditionalist88 17.19
;))
DublinBhoy – cheers for the link. Did you use it yourself?
midfield maestro on 20 March, 2012 at 16:26 said
Respect for Referees should be standard, but then respect for so many people and positions should be standard. Referees should operate in a climate and environment where their integrity, judgement and professionalism are NEVER brought into question. Then the respect would follow naturally.
However, they do not operate in a vacuum and are as susceptible as any of us to pressures, direct and indirect. The SFA has been dysfunctional (to use Henry McLeish’s word) and is not fit for purpose (to use BRTH’s phrase). The SFA controls and operates gthe refereeing function in Scotland, and to borrow another phrase from BRTH has been riddled with institutionalised arrogance for near on 100 years.
In the week when one referee quits in disgust at his unexplained summary demotion, another manages to demonstrate his own personal arrogance and lack of courage. Not for the first time, this referee chose to make a decision when his line of sight was obstructed (of course not looking in the direction of an contentious incident yet making a decision is barely that). His religious proclivities are well publicised, which in itself is a testament to the cultural norm within his trade, otherwise why should it merit a mention at all. This referee is allegedly one of the top referees in Scotland yet manages, in spectacular fashion, to make incompetence seem his default setting.
Everyone is aware of the pressure he would have been under had he given the penalty, something that in itself goes with the territory, but his would have been greater due to his religion and the cultural backgorund of Celtic. Rather like a father who coaches a football team where his son is a player; if he wants the team to play as best as they can, the dad cannot afford to have any suggestion of filial favoritism. So he tends to be harder on his son just to make sure that he is immune from any such suggestion. Mr Collum shows every evidence of doing the self same thing when he has to make ANY decision in favour of Celtic that is remotely contestable. Further, he shows no ability to perform under pressure, and when faced with situations where he is unsighted and where his assistants do not assist, he feels compelled to make some kind of decision, any decision. Once he makes that decision, AND where Celtic are playing, his second default setting kicks in. He decides in favour of the safe option, an option that has to be seen as not favouring the team that his background would suggest he would likely favour. His impartiality in respect of favouring a team who are identified with his cultural group is safe and intact when he does this, but he has failed in his duty as a referee.
Mr Collum happily takes advantage of the rule of silence and rule of no explanation that the SFA thinks ensures the integrity of the referees position. In fact, because it is one more example of the arrogance and non-transparent governance from the SFA, it actually damages the integrity of the game in Scotland and undermines referees and respect for them.
Mr Collum knows how the game operates in Scotland and what he has to do and what he has most definitely NOT got to do, if he wants to continue to rise in the refereeing world. His bosses will think that he handled the game on Sunday well, that he showed courage in booking Stokes and resisting the calls for a last minute penalty. For Mr Collum, that is all that matters. His reputation as a ref is intact, with those who hold power over his future as a ref in Scotland. The fact that that organisation is dysfunctional, riddled with insitutionalised arrogance, has a documented history of bias against Celtic, and is currently embroiled in the biggest scandal in sport is neither here nor there.
So, I don’t think that Mr Collum is deliberately dishonest, but I do think that his competence to referee is seriously flawed. Perhaps the refs in Scotland are trained to either give penalties or else book the fouled player for simulation. Mr Collum certainly seems to see these situations in that clear black-and-white light, but there is of course at least one alternative to either of those calls.
There is a problem with referees in Scotland, and no amount of “try it before you buy it” will change that situation. There is a old phrase in the Scottish Borders that seems to fit here. When outsiders question why things are done they way they are done, locals will say simply that it’s “aye been”. The SFA are a dinosaur sticking to an “aye been” culture, which sadly was and is one of arrogance, cronyism, complacency, poor ethical standards and incompetent governance.
They are the cause of the problems that beset Scotland’s referees, just as they are the cause of the mess of the game here, including it’s moral and financial bankruptcy. If the referees culture was one of honesty, openness and respect then they would see that respect by the bucket load.
Long post aplogy due to all.
HH
Chairbhoy on 20 March, 2012 at 17:28 said:
Not the article where Craven says he was marked up or down by Dallas on decisions Craven made for Celtic or against Rangers but it contains reports from the papers at the time of Dougiegate.
http://www.etims.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3166&Itemid=29
Evening lhads,
Anything to this story that we used EBTs in the mid 200s? I’ve heard mention of Juninho/2006 annual statement, but also that we paid back the tax almost immediately…
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 (C4news @Alextomo Damn You!!!).
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
Jungle Jim on 20 March, 2012 at 16:31 said:
“The bookies seem to more confident than some on here. William Hill offering 5/2 the Hun on Sunday.
5/2 !! At Home!!”
Can still get 3/1 at 888 and Bluesq.
Interestingly, too, I heard the other night that Rangers have never in their history lost 4 successive home games.
To date they have lost 3 in a row at Ibrokes ,,,
Come on You Bhoys in Green!
At the time I was more annoyed with our Player of the Season, Stokes not getting his shot away earlier. Has to be said though in last two seasons the best chance opposition clubs have of beating Celtic is to have Wullie Collum as referee.
Due to his line of work he obviously feels the need to give Celtic less then their fair share of decisions in order to progress through the ranks.
Bravery isn’t an issue either, as he once gave 3 penalties and 3 red cards in the same game!
gerryguk7- When Brian Quinn knew Juninho was using EBT through Celtic,he told the Board it was a bad idea and would possibly cause problems in years to come(slight understatement).We paid all back money re EBT very soon after that.
DeniaBhoy on 20 March, 2012 at 17:34 said:
DublinBhoy – cheers for the link. Did you use it yourself?
No, I didn’t…I took the easy route and became a step da. :)
The link was from a bloke in work who was given it when he first became a dad. He passed it on to another first time father.
Good luck
Hail Hail
The Lizard King
Sorry, i would love to answer your questions but this is not the place. Hope you understand.
bournesouprecipe on 20 March, 2012 at 17:17 said:
Desperate train journey and mad dash, to be home before six bongs.
If it`s Channel4 news its not on till 7 o clock. Relax and have a beer….
Wizard of Oz, do you still lurk?
RalphWaldoEllison-is Neil Lennon Season 2011-12 on 20 March, 2012 at 17:36 said:
Now that saved me a lot of typing. I thought it looked a stonewall but after seeing the replays I was not so sure. However after seeing the picture in today’s DR it was clearly a stonewall.
So why, when without the benefit of replay or pictures it looked a stonewall did Collum not award it?
A guy makes a desperate lunge from behind and a player in a scoring position goes down. What did Collum tell himself to reach the decision he reached? That question must be asked of him by the supervisor and if the answer is in any way he feared getting it wrong by awarding a penalty EVEN IF HE WAS PRoven TO Be RIGHT he is not fit to apply the laws of the game.
Collum should not referee any games where the immediate consequences affect titles or cups. His appointment on Sunday itself should be questionned.
I posted a link above that contains amongst others a suggestion for addressing the issue of refereeing in Scotland. We really need to change our attitude and approach too recognise the natural bias that effects Scottish Football.
Henriks Sombrero on 20 March, 2012 at 14:12 said:
SFA writing to all clubs demanding player payment details ?
They wouldn’t be trying to muddy the waters would they……?
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Ogilvie at work.
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danso_1888 on 20 March, 2012 at 14:45 said:
alex thomson now saying sfa admitting they done no due dilligence on whyte,white
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Ogilvie at work.
========================================
DeniaBhoy on 20 March, 2012 at 15:26 said:
Just back from the hospital in Denia with a smile on my face – the wife’s scan shows a new bhoy is on the way. I’m 46 years of age and come August will become a dad for the first time – is there a CQN manual for newbies?
==========================================
Congrats, Denia. Now practice sleeping in 2/3 hour bursts, smelling slightly of vomit, and having the Teletubbies theme tune careering around your head 24 hours a day.
RWE 17.36
No need to apologise for a long post, fine reply. I would rather read that than bully boy replies any day, you know the type, i can use bigger words & more meaningfull phrases than you. I was only giving, an ex insiders, point. As you and someone else posted earlier, i think it is more incompetance than anything else.
HELP!!!!!
Did colum give CELTIC a corner after the penalty chaos?
Lurgan 53 at 17:32
The mistake re:kelvin wilson in my opinion, was about why Lenny took off Rogne who I thought was d better of the 2 centre backs!
Maybe Wilson was left on for his pace ,with Lenny going for the win ,I have noticed that Wilson does not go up for corners for the same reason I suspect .
hail hail
navanbhoy
Think Tomas Rogne took a knock before he was taken off. He certainly was walking a little gingerly on way up to collect his medal.
Mort
STV reporting that one of the accused in the Neil Lennon trial claims to be a member of the Orange Order and a Celtic fan!
BBC TV News
just said Stuart Reagan has called on all scottish clubs to come clean on player extra payments,
is he having a laugh
interview coming up in the next 10 min
HH
Mike
midfieldmaestro
my opinion on penalty incident is that 99,9% of referees throughout world would have given the penalty
reasoning – a forward gets goalside of a defender and is shielding ball with his body -the defender cant let forward shoot so he lunges in from behind in full knowledge he cant get to ball without making contact with forward but hoping against hope
its a no brainer as every referee my teams have come against would tell you and thats why 99,9% of any decent referee would have instantly given penalty
your thoughts?
Sorry should be STV news
STV