As a former referee I was shocked at Steven Gerrard’s comment after the game on Sunday.
He said that the 4th official was saying into his microphone ‘foul, foul, foul’ when Rogic won the ball just outside the Celtic penalty area.
The referee’s decision to let play go on irked the Rangers manager. My query is why would a competent referee standing right by the incident require assistance from a colleague standing some 30 yards away next to a manager who would be highly charged due to the intensity of highly explosive Glasgow derby?
I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the referee’s changing room after the game and I am sure the referee would have said to the 4th official ‘what was that all about, you were nowhere in sight and did you respond to a manager badgering you?’
It is hard enough for a referee taking part in this type of game but to have a colleague trying to influence his decision is disturbing.
Maybe the role of the 4th official should be reviewed?
Of course the VAR system maybe the answer or neutral officials.
Yours, in sport
Brian Cullen
