They say a referee, much like a parent, needs eyes in the back of their head. And the SFA have announced one for the Glasgow Derby this weekend, who apparently has not only such an incredible ability, but also has a heightened sense of hearing – one that can pick out the sound of contact, even amongst the din of 60,000 voices, despite no such contact taking place.
Willie Collum, the man who gave a penalty at Celtic Park – against the last incarnation of a team who play out of Ibrox – despite having his back to the incident, and who later claimed he’d heard the contact between Celtic’s Daniel Majstorovic, and Kirk Broadfoot, is the delayed announcement as the SFA’s man in the middle for Sunday’s Glasgow Derby.
Listen to our referees talk about the appointment of Willie Collum for this Sunday's potential title decider. pic.twitter.com/ZNtR4SMKss
— Get Involved Referee! | The Podcast (@GetInvolvedRef) March 29, 2022
Collum goes out of his way to prove there is no bias whatsoever in the way he officiates games by being so inept that you can walk into any town or city in Scotland – and quite a substantial number of European outposts to boot – and local fans will all have a story as to how Willie Collum ruined their Saturday afternoon or Wednesday night.
For what it’s worth I certainly don’t believe Collum has any real bias. Indeed, my own take is his perception amongst the support at Ibrox, as not being of the ‘standard’ they are accustomed to having referee their games, simply makes oor Wullie, shall we say, overcompensate on occasion.
Willie Collum is going to need eyes in the back of his head for the game on Sunday, wait a god damn minute.
2010👇🏽👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/ldO4ZOx7xq
— Gaz🏴 (@8bltgaz) March 29, 2022
Many of course will point to the fact, that unlike other Scottish referees, at least Collum is not a previous holder of a season ticket at Ibrox, nor does he drink in loyal Bellshill watering holes after he’s finished officiating.
Yet few will predict anything other than Collum at some point taking centre stage on Sunday and for all the wrong reasons.
Shaun Riley
Did you see the crash Mr Collum?
No your honour, but but I heard them coming together.
So how did you know who crashed into who.?
I just know, your honour!
It wouldn’t go down well with the law, but it would stand up with the SFA ok.
Reasoning skills = 0 out of 10.