The fall-out following Rangers 1-0 win over Hibs at the weekend has continued and as always, the narrative being spun that decisions went in favour of Steven Gerrard’s side is front and centre.
That Celtic got a “present” of a decision – in Hamilton manager Brian Rice’s own words – has long since been forgotten about, as has the fact that Rangers could have had two penalties of their own with Hibs midfielder, Joe Newell, the latest to cry conspiracy, as reported by The Scottish Sun.
“It is one of those that if it is on the halfway line it is a foul all day long.
“If it is a penalty I think the ref is a wee bit more nervous to give it, but I think it IS a foul.
“I have gone in to head it and I can’t actually tell you what has happened.
“I think he has booted the other side of the ball.
“So I don’t know if there is actual contact but if there is a high boot it is dangerous play — and it is a free-kick anywhere else on the pitch.
“I spoke to the ref after it and said, ‘How is that not a thing?’ and he said I had ducked down.
“There was another shout from a corner when Ryan looked to be fouled.
“To get results here you need to play and to get a bit of luck and decisions to go your way as well — and we didn’t get them.”
Again, even if Willie Collum thought that there was an infringement, it would only have been an in-direct free-kick and for Jack Ross, the Hibs manager, to claim that James Tavernier being pushed into Ryan Porteous is “without any doubt” a penalty is nothing short of laughable, even Dermot Gallagher on Sky Sports News rubbished the claims.
What's more likely...
The Scottish media debating a dubious penalty for Celtic?
Bobby Madden giving us a penalty in the Old Firm derby?
Sometimes if would be nice if the policy of maintaining a dignified silence was abandoned so that a stronger response could be issued to such blatant attempts to influence and pressurise the referees – anybody would think there is big fixture on the horizon that could determine the destination of the Scottish Premiership title.