The Parkhead Penalty Peculiarity

[Frankie 8,529]

The first Old Firm clash of the season is almost upon us! Both teams are level at the top of the table and a SPL record will be broken if one of the sides can win this coming Sunday lunch-time. Thus, even more importance on a fixture which excites every football fan and the pressure on everyone involved will be cranked up another notch.

 

I certainly don't envy match referee Willie Collum who will take charge of his first Old Firm match after making his Champions League d�©but last month! As ever, his every move will be micro-analysed; particularly by the home support who love nothing more than a Masonic refereeing conspiracy. Given Collum's interesting background as a religious education teacher at a Roman Catholic school in Bellshill, perhaps the Celtic fans may be more trusting than usual.

 

To that end, they shouldn't really have a lot to worry about in an officiating sense at Parkhead. Incredibly it has now been over ten years since Rangers were last awarded a penalty there (by Stuart Dougal in August 2000) despite a range of strong claims during that period. An interesting anomaly then - especially considering Celtic have been awarded four of their own. For comparison's sake both teams have been given three penalties each at Ibrox Stadium over the same ten year period. Damn that Establishment!

 

I guess one should have some sympathy for the officials when examining the Old Firm phenomenon. The scrutiny placed upon them is intense, often unfair and they don't have the benefit of countless slo-mo replays. Add in the increased chance of being hit by a variety of objects by angry home fans at Parkhead (ask Hugh Dallas and Fernando Ricksen to name but two people) or accosted by same (ask Dida, El-Hadji Diouf or even Gordon Strachan), then one can't blame referees for worrying about their person (or indeed their house windows, cars or gardens) when looking to give a decision against Celtic. After all, the Celtic support are infamous for their paranoia accompanied by violence.

 

Just last weekend, lighters, coins and chestnuts were thrown onto the pitch by the Celtic support while their manager also physically and verbally abused the officials for having the temerity to rightly disallow a Celtic penalty. I guess they should be thankful mobile phones and bananas weren't added to the object list given they've both been thrown whenever a non-Celtic minded individual gets too close to the side of the pitch. The only surprising thing at Tannadice on Sunday was that no away fans fell/jumped from the death-trap of the Main Stand to make their point to the clearly cheating referee.

 

Of course Celtic have supposedly been reported to the SPL for this poor behaviour. Well, their support have anyway - their manager's aggressive actions towards the officials have been excused. Perhaps someone will belatedly report him to the SFA in 11 days time for his touch-line ban? Just don't expect the club to act quickly, after all the perpetrators of the various objects thrown at Fernando Ricksen five years ago still haven't been caught.

 

The message is clear. Give a decision perceived to be against Celtic and you'll be the subject of acute media analysis for weeks on end (see any official; not just in games Rangers play against Celtic per se either). Give a decision perceived to be against Celtic and your own job will become under threat while private investigators are hired to determine your background (see Mike McCurry and Hugh Dallas). Give a decision perceived to be against Celtic and be verbally and physically abused (see Neil Lennon as a Celtic captain and manager). Give a decision perceived to be against Celtic and run the risk of having a variety of bizarre (but painful) items being thrown at your person while your back is turned.

 

Thus, ten years since Billy Dodds scored that penalty at Parkhead (don't worry Celtic fans you were 4-1 up at the time and Barry Ferguson was later sent off to compensate) will Willie Collum be able to ignore that message and judge every incident on its own merits in front of 50000 home fans just waiting to be offended at Parkhead?

 

Or will he join the nine different referees since that day and look the other way when fouls are committed in the Celtic box? Personal safety or professional pride - I guess that isn't an easy question to answer when examining the Parkhead penalty peculiarity.

[Gazza_8 233]

There's no doubting Celtic will be awarded a penalty.

[Frankie 8,529]

There's no doubting Celtic will be awarded a penalty.

 

Well, the good news is that Collum does give us pens as well (see Aberdeen game a few weeks back) but he also allows opposition players to assault ours (see Diamond, Young and McGuire) in the same game for minimal punishment.

 

[rbr 1,256]

This game has disaster written all over it , by that I mean for anyone who dares officiate or give a decision the wrong way , the sporting integrity mob dont do irony , I mean how dare a referee who makes an incorrect decision take advice and correct that mistake,I mean that's just not sport..........ooops

[metlika 0]

I fear the refs will go out of their way to give something to them. However could be wrong, hopefully we just outplay them and take a victory.

[Zappa 0]

There isn't a snowball's chance in hell of Collum giving us a penalty at the piggery. I think his only option will be to try to avoid giving any penalties at all, which will become very difficult for him if he refuses 'stone waller's'. Gonna be a tough one for him because there's certain to be plenty claims.

 

Great article btw Frankie! Noticed it attracted a Jungle onto the main site for a wee argument too ...

[Gers4Life 0]

ill just be happy to go there and get the victory and play then off the fuckin park, cmon Rangers

[Super_Ally 0]

Well written Frankie and the point very well made. Not had a look on the main site but I imagine it's a difficult point to argue against.