A prominent referee podcast has criticized the SFA for assigning an official to a Celtic match just days after a high-profile error against Rangers.
Rangers issued a strongly worded statement raising “serious concerns” over Frank Connor’s appointment as assistant referee for Celtic’s clash with St Johnstone on December 29.
This decision follows the fallout from a contentious VAR decision during Rangers’ 5-4 penalty shootout loss to Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup Final.
Rangers furious as SFA recall officials
Frank Connor, who served as AVAR alongside VAR Alan Muir during the controversial game, failed to award Rangers a penalty for a clear foul on Vaclav Cerny during extra time with the score tied at 3-3. This critical error influenced the outcome, as Rangers ultimately lost in penalties.
Despite the SFA’s head of refereeing, Willie Collum, deeming the decision “unacceptable,” both Connor and Muir have returned to SPFL duties after being benched for the latest round of fixtures. Collum assured fans that the referees would face internal disciplinary action.
“It’s an unacceptable decision,” said Collum. “The VAR team know that, everybody in refereeing knows it. It’s unacceptable.
“We will do our very, very best through our coaching, through our analysis to make sure an incident like this never happens again.
“It’s a mistake, but it’s a bad mistake.
“You talk about accountability. I was very open when I took up this role at the start of the season there would be accountability in refereeing.
“I told the media, I told the managers that we would deal with things internally, there would be accountability but we’ve been consistent with that throughout the season. I can assure people of that.
“I did say that if match officials find themselves not involved in future matches or we need to change the profile of a match for somebody, we won’t come out and publicly say that.
“The way it happens that a manager doesn’t come out and publicly talk about, you know, he’s maybe taken a player out.
“We’ve also got a responsibility to protect the wider group of the referees, and we’ve also got a real responsibility to protect the match officials involved in this as well.
“What I am assuring you as I sit here today is there is accountability in refereeing but there’s been accountability consistently since I’ve taken up post.”
Alan Muir is set to resume VAR duties for St Mirren’s game against Dundee on December 29, while Connor will return earlier as an assistant referee for Kilmarnock’s clash with Aberdeen on Boxing Day. He will also serve as assistant referee for Celtic’s match against St Johnstone on December 29.
Rangers argue this decision “raises questions” about the SFA’s commitment to improving officiating standards and ensuring accountability.
Ex-referees slam ‘disgraceful’ SFA
The Ref’s View podcast, hosted by former referees Steve Conroy and Des Roache, joined the debate on social media, slamming the SFA’s decision as “disgraceful.”
The podcast criticized the timing of Connor’s appointment to a Celtic match, describing it as unnecessary pressure on the official. They also supported Rangers’ decision to question the move, though they suggested it would have been better handled privately.
In a statement posted on X, the podcast said:
“Why on earth have the SFA appointed Frank Connor to a Celtic match so soon after the recent media outrage. He can’t win in this situation. Disgraceful pressure to put him under & not protecting him. Rangers quite right to question it but would’ve preferred it privately.”
Responding to Rangers’ statement, they added:
“This was always going to happen. Putting said official is an extremely compromising position when there was no need to. We can’t do anything without making it worse.”
