Ex-FIFA official: Willie Collum sends public message in reaction to Rangers v Celtic controversy

Willie Collum has made it clear to officials involved in Rangers’ Premier Sports Cup final defeat to Celtic that he will not tolerate errors, according to Keith Hackett.

As reported by the Daily Record on Tuesday (17 December), SFA officials Alan Muir and Frank O’Connor have been axed from their Scottish Premiership duties this weekend after failing to flag a stonewall penalty to Rangers before their penalty shoot-out versus Celtic at Hampden Park.

Vaclav Cerny was clearly fouled by Liam Scales inside the penalty area during extra-time.

John Beaton didn’t spot the incident but Hackett believes the two VAR officials, as well as the assistant referee, should have helped the referee by getting him to check Scales’ challenge on the pitch-side monitor before awarding Philippe Clement’s side a penalty.

“Willie Collum and Martin Atkinson will want the season to advance with the minimum amount of contact,” the former FIFA and Premier League referee told Ibrox News.

“Firstly, the assistant referee if positioned in line with the penalty area should have been able to contribute by confirming where the foul took place. He did not so that is the first person wrapped up in this poor decision.

“VAR should have intervened to determine if the offence was inside or outside the penalty area. The penalty area line is of course deemed inside the area.

Willie Collum praised over handling of Rangers controversy

“Collum has demonstrated that he will not accept this type of error and has taken action.

“His decision will be aimed at taking these officials out of the heat and no doubt give them some operational advice.

“It also sends a message that highlights that Collum will not tolerate errors.

“Well done to him.”

Rangers’ new CEO Patrick Stewart has confirmed that he’s awaiting a response from the SFA to explain why the video assistant referees did not get Beaton to re-assess Scales’ foul on Cerny [Daily Record].

In other Rangers news, Neil Lennon has revealed what he found “shocking” about the two Old Firm sides on Sunday.

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