Refin ‘ell the latest chapter in Scottish football whistlers’ book of shame brought shrieks of disapproval on the Hotline.
Bobby Madden’s performance as Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw at Dundee United on Sunday - a result that allowed Celtic to move three points clear a couple of hours later - was slaughtered by those of a light blue persuasion.
Craig Wilson emailed: “Madden and his officials should never be allowed to referee another game. Shameful display. Denying Rangers two blatant penalties as well as three red cards for United players, two of them second bookings and a straight red for Mulgrew. It's getting sinister now. If this was the green and white side they'd be looking for a Government enquiry. We're being reffed to a different level.”
Irwin Houston, Glasgow, said: “Once again Rangers have been denied a ‘stonewall’ penalty as Ross Graham tugged Fashion Sakala’s shirt and knocked him completely off balance. If Madden didn’t see it, where was the assistant referee looking?
“It was a penalty and a red card for Graham. VAR must be introduced as a matter of urgency as there are so many contentious decisions happening every week.”
John Bruce also made the case for VAR saying: “Without VAR in Germany, Rangers v Dortmund would have been a 2-2 draw. With VAR in Scotland, Rangers' game on Sunday would have been 3-1 and Celtic's 3-3.”
Grant Parker emailed: “Surely it is now time to ditch the current batch of referees in Scotland and look at bringing in foreign referees? The standard is absolutely dreadful and this is reflected in the number that has been chosen by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup. Nobody trusts them anymore.”
But Lance Little, Erskine, argued: “Once again Rangers fans are blaming everything and everyone for their club’s poor performances in the league. ‘It's not fair, the referee gives us nothing, the officials are giving Celtic the league’. Are these the same officials who have given few stonewallers against them in the last few years?”
Giorgos Giakoumakis was in bullish mood after hitting his first Celtic hat-trick to see off Dundee 3-2. He claimed the Hoops will win the title because they are better in every area than Rangers.
Alfie Mullin, London, said: “It's not only Celtic fans who are delusional. Their players also seem to suffer from the same affliction. Giakoumakis thinks because they had a lucky win against the Premiership's relegation favourites, courtesy of dodgy refereeing, that Celtic are going to win the league. I hope Giovanni Van Bronckhorst hangs his comments up in the dressing room. Giakoumakis will be eating his words at the end of the season.”
Meanwhile, George Wilson, West Sussex, pointed out: “Rangers victory over Dortmund is even more remarkable after Dortmund's 6 nil victory yesterday. Dortmund are a top European side in a top league and will score at Ibrox so Rangers will still have a job in qualifying. Rangers were allowed to play football against a proper football team that night whereas yesterday it was back to the parking the bus and niggling fouling and constant shirt pulling of the likes of Dundee United and the appalling standard of refereeing we have to endure in Scotland. Only three points in it yet Celtic supporters seem to think they have won the league whilst continuing to be a total embarrassment in Europe and belittling Rangers’ great victory.”
Some of the criticism was reserved for Rangers’ January signings Amad Diallo and Aaron Ramsey who has played only one full 90 minutes since arriving to much fanfare on deadline day.
Don Fowler, North Wales, said: “I think Rangers should send Diallo back to Manchester United as he doesn’t have the bottle for the Scottish league. Against Dundee United he kept pulling out of tackles and is not good enough for Rangers. There must be a winger in the B team better than him.”
And Dr Robert Pender emailed: “The Manchester United loanee is too light weight. He will never get time to do party tricks.”
Meanwhile Thomas Weir emailed: “Aaron Ramsey ‘the best signing since Gazza’ genuinely has the match fitness of the current day Gazza.”
Away from the Old Firm and Hearts fan Ian McDonald, Innerleithen, reckons the Jambos are in a jam despite their third place in the table.
He said: “Once again Neilson shows his lack of ambition against a team who cannot buy a win.The players are gutless and clueless.”
