As if watching Celtic crown their third Scottish Premiership title in a row v Derek McInnes wasn’t bad enough for Rangers.
The Ibrox club will have to make peace with the fact Willie Collum – against whom the Gers have been vocally disagreeable in the past – has just taken the top refereeing job in the country.
It means that Rangers are going to be in regular dialogue with the SFA’s uninventive new Head of Refereeing and it’s enough to make you titter.
If you don’t, you’ll probably cry.
But as Rangers, and the rest of Scottish football, look to improve the woeful standard of officiating across the board, the content of the Ibrox side’s first email to Mr Collum has just been provided by Derek McInnes.
Referee ‘apologised’ to McInnes
Whilst Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes was clear that Celtic didn’t need a ‘helping hand’ on their way to a 5-0 Rugby Park romp, the ex-Gers midfielder claims they got one anyway.
Forever the victims of a refereeing conspiracy which fundamentally does not exist, play should’ve been pulled back for a Kilmarnock head-knock before the Parkhead side’s opener.
At least that’s according to a scorned McInnes himself, who claims Don Robertson admitted the mistake to him at the interval.
The world’s worst conspiracy strikes again.
“They didn’t need a helping hand tonight,” said McInnes. “I thought the first goal, Don Robertson has apologised to me at halftime.
“He should’ve stopped it for a head knock. Disappointed with that.”
Rangers beat brunt of VAR calamity
Not to sound too salty about things, but Rangers really have been stitched by VAR at times this season.
Rangers have also been the victim of the most incorrect VAR calls according to the SFA’s own independent panel.
We appear to be at the whim of the technology too.
Any big decision in Rangers’ favour, particularly penalty calls, are usually given by VAR because referees are scared stiff to give them on the field.
It has to be meticulously poured over in a way which there’s a sentiment does not happen with the other sides.
Whilst Rangers manager Philippe Clement is a big advocate of the technology, Rangers have to take a proactive and aggressive approach to these incorrect decisions.
There’s no conspiracy either way, let’s be clear here, but referees would have to be superhuman to escape the immense influence exerted on them by rival fans when it comes to Rangers.
Celtic have used their stooges in the media effectively to build a narrative around the Ibrox side which undoubtedly competes with any positive Ibrox coverage.
Next campaign, let’s make sure Rangers, Celtic and the rest of the Premiership are on a level playing field with authoritative referees and a VAR who are not scared to make the correct decisions.
But with Willie Collum at the helm, something tells us the drama is only just beginning.
