Shades of Alan Muir after Celtic v Hibs, as the Ibrox side demand a sacrificial lamb after “Trustygate”

The Ibrox side really don’t want to let up on this one, do they?

As they begin their review of various ‘officiating trends across multiple campaigns’ one hopes that they also bring to light their ‘almost’ World record breaking run of 72 games without the concession of a penalty.

If they’re including multiple campaigns, surely that campaign must not be overlooked?

And while they’re at it, why don’t they demand that referees have to declare their allegiances as well?

If they’re looking for transparency, then I’m all for it.

Because this notion they have that the game is rigged in Celtic’s favour is as laughable as it is ridiculous.

Let’s not beat around the bush here, that’s exactly what their ‘officiating trends’ report is trying to prove, isn’t it?

The hilarious thing in all of this is that if Celtic decided they wanted to put an ‘officiating trends’ report together, they could fill hundreds of pages with anti-Celtic, pro-Ibrox officiating trends.

Regardless of what Keith Jackson says about our ‘paranoia stick’.

Because lest we forget, all of these referees are genuine, honest guys.

It doesn’t matter who they support, that’s just something that should never, ever, be questioned.

I’ve wondered why Celtic haven’t compiled their own report on ‘officiating trends’ over the years?

But then again, I only need look to our boardroom for my answer.

Now, in this situation, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think that the Ibrox side are looking for a sacrificial lamb in all of this?

You know?

They smell blood, and they want something done.

But is it Nick Walsh or Andrew Dallas they’re after?

Surely, considering the tremendous support Andrew’s Dad gave them over the years, it couldn’t be him?

In their ‘officiating trends across multiple campaigns’ report, I have no doubt they would bring to light the demise of Alan Muir last season, after his somewhat hasty decision making at the Hibs v Celtic game last February.

But let’s be honest here, we all know that Walsh and Dallas’ transgression, which according to Willie Collum is not a transgression at all, certainly does not warrant a punishment like Muir’s.

So what kind of outcome exactly is the Ibrox side looking for?

What is it that they expect to achieve from this?

Now, apparently they see the latest incident (Trustygate) as part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated mistake.

Wow, they’ve only spotted that now?

So, up to this point they’ve been living under a rock, is it?

Well, Keith Jackson doesn’t want them to crawl out from under that rock either.

Because that might make them look foolish like those paranoid nutters from Celtic Park.

Here’s his take on it:

And his message for the Gers hierarchy was to drop the suggestion that this is all part of some wider plot, having seen it before from the other side of Glasgow when the roles were reversed and it was red, white and blue ribbons on almost every trophy in Scotland.

Yes, we were all paranoid fruitcakes.

It was all a big plot.

I’ll just drop in the below post on X for persepctive.

Yes indeed, paranoid conspiracy theorists.

Of course, Keith is begging the Ibrox hierarchy to stop because that might make him look like us crazies from Celtic Park.

This is just hilarious:

Despite the many R*****s grievances, what I’m uncomfortable with is this sort of suggestion from R*****s that this isn’t to be viewed as a one-off incident,” said Jacko. “There’s something broader, there’s a bigger pattern going on here.

Come on guys, what are we saying here? Because Scottish football has been through enough periods of people wrapping themselves up in tinfoil hats.

Nothing to see here.

Move along now.

Don’t you know?

The Scottish game is as pure as the driven snow?

The only people wrapping themselves up in tinfoil hats are the people who think there’s nothing wrong with the game in Scotland.

If the Ibrox side wants transparency, I’m all for it.

Bring it on.

Let’s strip refereeing bare, and start from scratch here.

Reading Jackson’s ramblings, you get the impression he just wants everyone to shut up.

Because God forbid, a Scottish refereeing scandal might give him some real journalism to do.

We’ve been there, we’ve done it, it does the game no benefit and I think Rangers would be well advised to step back from that narrative if that’s the one that they’re trying to paint.

What are they saying? Are they suggesting that Scottish football is corrupt? That’s what the suggestion is.

It wasn’t right when it was stated previously. There was a period of time when Celtic were having to look up to Rangers in terms of their position in the league table over a number of years and the number of trophies.

Are they suggesting that Scottish football is corrupt?

Good God, no!

It couldn’t possibly be, could it?

And therein lies the irony in all of this.

The team who has benefitted the most from corrupt officials in Scotland crying foul and shouting corruption?

You couldn’t make it up.

All that’s wrong with Keith is that he doesn’t want his favourite side to look any bonkers than it already does.

And them crying corruption?

Well, Keith’s right, that really is tinfoil hat stuff, isn’t it?

Key Takeaways

• The Ibrox side is examining officiating trends but overlooks their long penalty-free streak.
• Celtic could compile a report on biased officiating trends, undermining the Ibrox claims.
• Questions arise about the Ibrox side’s motives; they seek accountability from referees but may not get it.
• Critics argue that claims of officiating bias are overblown and reflect paranoia rather than reality.
• Calls for transparency in refereeing highlight the hypocrisy of teams benefiting from questionable officiating.